| Regimental number | 102 |
| Place of birth | Brisbane, Queensland |
| True Name | STRATFORD, Gordon John |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | Annie Street, Torwood, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 4.5" |
| Weight | 133 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs T. Barrcroft, Annie Street, Torwood, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Driver |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, Machine Gun Section |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A61 Bakara on |
| The Machine Gun Section of 31st Bn left from Melbourne on two ships, HMAT A62 'Wandilla', embarking on 9 November 1915, and HMAT A41 'Bakara', embarking on 5 November 1915. From the Embarkation Rolls it is not possible to distinguish on which ship an individual sailed. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 8th Machine Gun Section |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 23), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 179 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, HMAT A41 'Bakara', 5 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 13 December 1915. Found guilty, 4 January 1916, of inattention at Drill, insolence to N.C.O.; using thretening language to N.C.O.: awarded 168 hours' Field Punishment No 2. Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 6 January 1916 (cough); discharged to unit, 9 January 1916. Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 13 January 1916 (pneumonia); no details of discharge recorded. Transferred to 8th Brigade Machine Gun Section, Tel el Kebir, 9 March 1916; taken on strength, 11 March 1916. Reverted to Private, Ferry Post, 15 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported wounded and missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in action, 20 July 1916.' Red Cross File No 2650303 has statement ('Eye-witness: "Yes"') from 295 Pte R. SMITH, 8th Company, Australian Machine Gun Corps (patient, Southwark Military Hospital, England), 19 June [1917?]: 'I saw Stratford who was batman to Lieut. Shepherd, killed at Fleur Baix (sic) on July 19, 1916. He was buried at Cellar Farm Cemetery.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Next of kin (1922): Half-sister, Miss Laura CALLENDER, c/o Mrs Anderson, Chadderley Avenue, East St Kilda, Victoria. |
| Sources | NAA: B244, STRATFORD Gordon Edward
Red Cross File No 2650303 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
