Regimental number | 4227 |
Place of birth | St Arnaud, Victoria |
Other Names | Donald Alexander |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Occupation | Butcher |
Address | Mrs Ruby Berry, 421 Punt Road, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria |
Marital status | Married |
Age at embarkation | 23 |
Height | 5' 9.75" |
Weight | 156 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, George William Berry, Lemon Avenue, Mildura, Victoria |
Previous military service | Nil |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 23rd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/3 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 2nd Machine Gun Battalion |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 21 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 June 1916; taken on strength, 60th Bn, 22 July 1916. Admitted to 36th Casualty Clearing Station, 27 November 1916 (trench feet); transferred to Ambulance Train, 28 November 1916, and admitted to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, 29 November 1916; to England, 5 December 1916, and admitted same day to 2nd War Hospital, Birmingham; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 16 January 1917; discharged on furlough, 29 January 1917, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 13 February 1917.Marched out to Command Depot, Hurdcott, 14 March 1917. Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, England, 30 April 1918 Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Nestor', 20 May 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 2 July 1919; discharged, Melbourne, 16 August 1919. Wife wrote to Base Records, 26 July 1917: 'I am writing you a few lines concerning a cable that I had received from my husband asking me to send him ten pounds. It is three months or more since I got it and I did not send it because I did not think he wanted it so I got a letter from him lately saying that he wanted to get some clothes with it and I received another cable the other day sending for the money again and it had urgent on it. I always thought they were provided with their clothes. I think it is very hard for a woman to struggle along on 4/5' a day and 4.5d for a child and then to send ten pounds away to buy clothes for your husband who is doing his duty. I have sent him four parcels and he has not received any of them. what is a woman to do. It costs 3/6 and 4/- to make a pair of sock (sic) for them and they don't get them. Can you tell me why they don't get them. I have been boarding ever since my husband left so I can't live cheaper but I cannot send money away for nothing so will you knidly let me know Sir if he should need the money for clothes or what is it wanted for. Could you oblige me by letting me know.' Base Records replied, 3 August 1917: '' ... I have to state that a Member of the Australian Imperial Force is provided with full equipment, which includes clothing. According to information received by post, the above soldier was admitted on 5.12.16 to the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham, England, suffering from Trench Feet. On 29.1.17 he was discharged from Hospital to furlough, and instructed to report at Perham Downs, England, on 13.2.1917. The money for which he urgently cabled may have been desired by him for use during his period of furlough. Should you desire to send money, the safest method is to transmit it through the Commonwealth Bank. the cable message should include a request for official identification. Provided the parcels referred to by you were correctly addressed, I am unable to explain their non-delivery.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |