The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Promoted Lance Sergeant, 28 January 1915; Sergeant, 1 April 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Joined from Hold Party, Anzac, no date stated.

To duty at Gallipoli from 'Gamanieh', 13 May 1915 (right ear discharge).

To hospital, 2 June 1915; disembarked Alexandria, 27 June 1915, and admitted to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Cairo (gastro-enteritis); discharged to duty, Cairo, 21 August 1915; rejoined 3rd Bn, Anzac, 26 August 1915.

Promoted Company Quartermaster Sergeant, 30 October 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 29 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 55th Bn, 13 February 1916; taken on strength of of 55th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 13 February 1916.

Promoted Company Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class 2), Moascar, 13 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 26 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 2360104: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Statement, 3098 Pte F. JOHNSTON, A Company, 55th Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 3 April 1917: 'I saw him last on the morning of 20.7.16 at Fleurbaix in a communication trench leading from our trench towards the German line. This was only a shallow trench, as it was dug the previous night. He was not wounded when I saw him. He was posted as "Missing" next morning at Roll call (sic), and no information could be got of him, so I feel that he is dead, as otherwise he would have reported ... The Germans flooded this trench amongst others.' Interviewer comment: 'A careful witness.'

Second statement, 1576 Pte S.J. KERRISON, A Company, 55th Bn (patient, No 2 General Hospital (Palais), Havre), 13 April 1917: 'The last seen of him was with about a dozen others: they were surrounded by Germans, and they were either taken prisoner or killed. I was told this by Pte. Hughes of D Coy., and a corporal since killed.'

Third statement, 3080 Pte J. HARTNEY, 55th Bn, 3 April 1917: 'I saw this man killed. He was shot in an attack made on the 19th July 16. He was leaving the front line, and had just stepped over the parapet, when he was shot. I saw him fall. The advance party were not ableto return. The ground was not held. He was not buried as far as I know.'

Fourth statement, 2661 Corporal J.J. GAMBELL, 55th Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 3 October 1917: 'On the 19th July, 1916, I was in support trenches with Rose, when a shell landed in the trench and Rose was killed at once.'