The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915.

Found guilty, 10 February 1916, of conduct to the prejudice of good order ad military discipline: awarded 1 hour's Punishment Drill.

Found guilty, 14 February 1916, of insolence to a Non-Commissioned Officer: awarded 6 hours' Punishment Drill.

Found guilty, 25 February 1916, of insolence to a Non-Commission Officer: awarded 6 hours' Punishment Drill.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Posted missing in action, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 23 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2640602, Sergeant C.N. COLLESS, Orderly Room Sergeat, 30th Bn, 17 August 1919: '[Shone] Last Seen by Coy men crossing No Man's Land on evening of 19th.'

Second statement, 568 Pte W.H. WEBB, 30th Bn (patient, 2nd London General Hospital, Southall, England), 19 December 1916: 'I knew him personally. [H]e used to be a sniper in my Company. He was wounded between July 19th and 20th, was hit in the legs. The Germans re-took the trnech on the 20th. and we did not have the time to get him out, and he was taken prisoner.'

Third statement, Red Cross File No 2490501, 568 Pte W.H. WEBB, B Company, 30th Bn,4 April 1917: 'Witness was near soldier during the attack at FROMELLES near Armentieres, on July 19th '16. They were in the enemy's front line trench, when a shell exploded, and soldier was wounded badly in the leg. Witness was unable to remain behind and look after him, but is of the opinion from the way he was wounded, that soldier most probaly died. If not, he should have been taken prisoner.'