Regimental number | 635 |
Place of birth | Brisbane, Queensland |
School | Jersey College, Channel Islands, England |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Hairdresser |
Address | 'St Astle', Palmer Street, Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 25 |
Height | 5' 10" |
Weight | 154 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Susanah Louisa Alpin, 'St Astle', Palmer Street, Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales |
Previous military service | Served in the Royal Militia, Jersey; resigned on leaving the island. |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Lance Sergeant |
Unit name | 30th Battalion, C Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/47/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 30th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
Age at death | 25 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 116 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Augustus Mark (d. Brisbane, 1893) and Susannah Louisa CHURCH, 130 Cavendish Street, Stanmore, New South Wales. Native of Brisbane |
Family/military connections | Only brother, Wireless Instructor in Kitchener's Army, died 2 April 1915 [? 30832 Sapper T.M. CHURCH, Reserve Signal Depot, Royal Engineers] |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915. Promoted Sergeant, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Missing, 20 July 1916. 'Identification Disc received from Germany. No particulars were afforded except that Soldier was deceased. May now be reported "KILLED IN ACTION" 20/7/16.' Communication from Berlin (file p. 24): 'austr. Sold. Church. c. 30. Batt. Nr. 835. am 19.7.16 in Gegend Fromelles gefallen'. Red Cross File No 730708 has statement from 289 Pte S.W. STRIKE, 30th Bn (patient. Woodcote Park, Epsom, England), 13 September 1916: 'I saw him killed by shell fire just outside his trench at Fleurbaix Fromelles.' Second statement, 1305 Pte C.G. LAVENDER (patient, 35th General Hospital, Calais), 3 October 1916: 'Sergeant W. Fox, C. Co, 30th Battalion, saw him dead at Fromelles on the 20th July 1916.' Third statement, 925 Pte N. McKAY (patient, Rust Hall Hospital, Tunbridge Wells), 10 October 1916: 'Informant states that Sergt. Butterworth, 30th Australians, D. Coy, had told him in Rust Hall Hospital that Church was killed alongside him on July 19th.' Fourth statement, 1575 Pte P.J. KRESTENSEN, 30th Bn (patient, 20th General Hospital, France), 9 November 1916: 'I saw him and his platoon go into a sap where later on I saw him, with most of his men, compelled to surrender. This was at Fromelles on July 19th.' Fifth statement, 8 Pte A. WALKER, 30th Bn (patient, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England) ('Eyewtiness'), 18 November 1916: 'On July 19th, at Fromelles, near Armentieres, Church was killed by shell, but could not be brought in.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, CHURCH Chester Cecil
Red Cross file 730708 |