The AIF Project

Albert Edward CANHAM

Regimental number2577
Place of birthAlbany, Western Australia
True NameBALDRY, Albert Edward
SchoolAlbany State School, Western Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationButcher
AddressCedar Avenue, Alberton, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 5.75"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Ann Canham, Eastbridge Box, Suffolk, England
Previous military serviceServed in military and naval cadets.
Enlistment date22 January 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 30 September 1917
Age at death from cemetery records19
Place of burialTyne Cot Cemetery (Plot LXV, Row A, Grave No 12), Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Mary A. BALDRY, Ulster Road, Albany, Western Australia
Family/military connectionsBrother: 4950 Pte Frederick Oswald BALDRY, 48th Bn, killed in action, 11 April 1917.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 20 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 June 1916.

Taken on strength, 32nd Bn, in the field, 2 August 1916.

On Command, Lewis Gun School, 13 September 1916; rejoined Bn from School, 21 September 1916.

Admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance, 2 October 1916 (tonsilitis and diptheria), and transferred to No 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station; to 14th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 6 October 1916; to England, 11 November 1916 (diptheria), and admitted to Reading War Hospital; discharged on furlough, 1 December 1916, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 18 December 1916.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 27 January 1917; transfererd to No 1 VD Hospital, Parkhouse, 22 February 1917; discharged to duty, 12 March 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 45 days.

Proceeded overseas to France, 3 May 1917.

Found guilty, 21 June 1917, of when on Active Service, 18 June 1917 (1) disorderly conduct, i.e. feigning drunkenness; (2) violently resisting the Military Police: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 1, and forfeited £7 pay.

Marched out to unit under escort, 28 June 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 1 July 1917.

Statutory Declaration, 22 September 1917, stated true name to be Albert Edward BALDRY.

Reported missing after action, 30 September 1917.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field,28 February 1918, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 30 September 1917'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 0200806G, 4011 Pte J.W. ANDERSON, D Company, 32nd Bn, 19 January 1918: 'I was with them [BALDRY and 6530 C.S. HENDERSON] on the night of September 29th at Polygon Wood. We were in the front line. The Germans were shelling us heavily. Lt. Johnson who was with us ordered us to get out of the trench. We started to do so. Baldry and Henderson were with us when the order was given. Several men got out but a number were killed. There was no trace of either of these men after we left the trench. I myself searched for them in the early morning. I had seen them at the spot where the shelling took place just before we were ordered out. That is the last we know of them. They belonged to XV pl. D. Coy.'

Second statement, 25853 Pte J. McEWEY, D Company, 32nd Bn, 13 May 1918: 'I knew him well. His people live in Albany. I don't know the number of his reinforcement; he used to belong to the Australian Navy. On September 30th. we were holding the line at Polygon Wood. He and I were sitting yarning when a big shell burst about 5 yards from us and knocked him silly. I grabbed him by the shoulder and got him along the trench. As there were several men lying dead in the trench I could not push him along but went ahead telling him to follow. Just after another large shell burst and killed Baldry and about eight others.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CANHAM Albert Edward
Red Cross File No 0200806G

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