Alex Donald BERRY

Regimental number4227
Place of birthSt Arnaud, Victoria
Other NamesDonald Alexander
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationButcher
AddressMrs Ruby Berry, 421 Punt Road, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 9.75"
Weight156 lbs
Next of kinFather, George William Berry, Lemon Avenue, Mildura, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date7 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll15 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name23rd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll2nd Machine Gun Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 20 May 1919
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