The AIF Project

Gordon BREEN

Regimental number1020
Place of birthCamperdown, Victoria
SchoolSt Patrick's Catholic School, Camperdown, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBlacksmith
AddressBarkly Street, Camperdown, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 7"
Weight137 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs J. Breene, Barkly Street, Camperdown, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for one year in the Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date10 March 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name23rd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/40/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 10 May 1915
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal Roll2nd Lieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll23rd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 4 July 1918
Place of death or woundingVillers-Bretonneux, France
Age at death22
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialVillers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Plot X, Row E, Grave No. 5), Fouilloy, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
98
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Sarah BREEN, Barkly Street, Camperdown, Victoria
Medals

Military Medal

'On the night of 21st September 1917 the Battalion was placed under cover near CHATEAU WOOD during enemy barrage on our sector, and enemy shell fired a dump within a few yards of troops. This N.C.O. immediately rushed to the dump, scattered the burning boxes of 18 pdr. ammunition and extinguished the fire. This cool and courageous act undoubtedly saved a serious explostion and lives of men in the close vicinity.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 8 May 1915.

Proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 30 August 1915.

Charged 2/6d for replacement Gas Helmet, Anzac, 20 November 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, ex-Mudros, 27 December 1915.

Found guilty, 17 January 1916, of being absent without leave from 2145 hours, 11 January 1916, until 2145 hours, 16 January 1916: awarded 7 days' detention, and forfeits 6 days' pay.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 2 September 1916.

Promoted Lance Corporal, 13 November 1916.

Admitted to No 5 Australian Field Ambulance, 14 October 1916 (influenza); transferred to 23rd Divisional Rest Station, 15 October 1916; discharged to duty, 17 October 1916.

Admitted to No 2 Australian Field Ambulance, 13 November 1916; transferred to Divisional Rest Station, 13 November 1916.

Promoted Temporary Corporal, 20 December 1916; reverts to the rank of Lance Corporal, 25 December 1916.

Promoted Temporary Corporal, 26 December 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 16 February 1917.

Wounded in action, 5 March 1917; admitted to No 6 Australian Field Ambulance, 5 March 1917 (bayonet wound, arm); transferred to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, 6 March 1917; to No 31 Ambulance Train, 7 March 1917; to No 12 General Hospital, Rouen, 8 March 1917; to England, 14 March 1917; to No 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 15 March 1917; to No 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 2 April 1917; discharged to furlough, 5 April 1917, and to report to Command Depot, Hurdcott, 20 April 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France from Infantry Draft Depot, Perham Downs, 9 May 1917; marched into 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 10 May 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 13 May 1917; rejoined 23rd Bn, 14 May 1917.

Promoted Temporary Sergeant, 14 May 1917.

Promoted Sergeant, 12 June 1917.

Detached to School of Instruction, 7 July 1917; rejoined unit, 19 July 1917.

Proceeded to Cadet Bn, 2 November 1917; marched into No 4 Officers Cadet Bn, Oxford, 9 November 1917.

Qualified for Commission in Infantry, 30 April 1918, and to retain rank of Cadet until commissioned.

Marched into 5th Training Bn, Fovant, 10 May 1918.

Promoted 2nd Lieutenant, 1 June 1918, and posted to General Infantry Reinforcements.

Proceeded overseas to France, 11 June 1918; marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Havre, 13 June 1918.

Proceeded to unit, 16 June 1918; taken on strength of 23rd Bn, 17 June 1918.

Killed in action, 4 July 1918.

Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
SourcesNAA: B2455, BREEN Gordon

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