The AIF Project

Edwin Allan BIGNELL

Regimental number1078
Place of birthPort Augusta, South Australia
SchoolState School, East Adelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationWarehouseman
AddressSt Andrew Street, North Walkerville, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation36
Height5' 10.5"
Weight147 lbs
Next of kinFather, S Bignell, St Andrew Street, North Walkerville, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date31 August 1914
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name11th Battalion, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/28/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board Transport A11 Ascanius on 2 November 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll11th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 2 May 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death2 May 1915
Age at death35
Age at death from cemetery records36
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 33), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
61
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in North Road Church of England Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia. Parents: Francis and Martha BIGNELL
Family/military connectionsCousin: 3368 Pte Frank BIGNELL, 34th Bn, returned to Australia, 12 June 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 5 March 1915.

Killed in action, 2 May 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsFirst given name entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as Edward.
SourcesNAA: B2455, BIGNELL Edwin Allan

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