The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to, and proceeded to 57th Bn from 6th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 23 February 1916; taken on strength of 57th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 23 February 1916.

Promoted Sergeant, Ferry Post, 27 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

Buried Rue du Bois Cemetery by Reverend G.W.B. Statt, no date stated.

Statement, 2150 Lance Corporal W.W. MARTIN, D Company, 57th Bn, 12 November 1916: 'On the morning of July the twentieth our battalion was holding portion of a trench known as the "300 yards reserve line" in the Fromelles section of our Western front. All morning one of the enemies (sic) guns had beenenfilading this position, causing several casualties in No. 14 platoon of which he was Sergt. About10 a.m. an alarm of gas was passed down the trench and as the wind was from the direction of the German line, Sergt. Kerr stoop up upon the firestep in one of the bays and looked over our parapet to see if any gas was approaching, Sergt. Eldershaw, Sergt/Major Thorburn, and Private Savolien also looked over with him, and at that instant a shell struck the sand bags on the roof of a dug-out behind them, killed Sergt Kerr and Eldershaw and Private Savolien instantly, but Thorburn was unhurt. We laid the bodies out at the rear of the trench and covered themwith waterproof sheets, and in the afternoon when the firing had slackened we carried them to the :Rifle Villa" Cemetery, where they were buried with all reverence by our chaplain, and in the presence of some of their comrades.'

Second statement, 3659 Pte WILMOT, D Company, 57th Bn (patient, No 35 General Hospital, Calais), 18 October 1916: 'He never cared about his own safety - it was always our safety that he looked after. We were attacking Lille. The 57th were in reserve and we had been up in the 300 line about half an hour. He opened a tin of bully beef but he could not keep still on account of his anxiety for the men and three getting killed just before he was made him (sic) all the more particular. He kept walking up and down and made us get our masks ready. then he took his glasses and looked over the parapet, on the lookout for gas, when a whizz-bang burst and killed him and Sergt. Eldershaw alongside him and a private Savalonie (?). C.S.M. Thorburn (now Lieut) was also with them but was not hurt. Kerr had a Mill's grande in his pocket at the time and, as his arm was blown out at the shoulder, and one hip blown away, we concluded that it had exploded. I helped to carry him out and he was buried at Rifle Villa ... '