The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 7 February 1916; disembarked Suez, 11 March 1916.

Proceeded to 32nd Bn from 8th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 1 April 1916; taken on strength of 32nd Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 1 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported wounded and missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Memorandum on Red Cross File No 741205, Court of Enquiry held at Wardricques, 12 August 1917: 'The Court consider (sic) that on both occasions an attack was made on a strong enemy position, the attacks were unsuccessful and it was necessary to fall back on the original line. The shell fire on both occasions was extremely heavy and it was impossible for burial parties to get to work. Stretcher bearers were only able to bring in a few of the wounded. The records of the Battalion were then examined and it was found that 2 officers and 74 other ranks originally reported as Missing are now officially reported as P Of War in Germany. (1) That none of the evidence tends to show that the persons to whom it refers is now alive or is a P of W. (2) That in view of the lapse of time since operations it is improbable that any officers or other ranks other than those whose names have appeared in the official ists will now be found to be P of W in Germany. (3) That where no evidence is forth-coming the persons about whom nothing is known were killed in action. (4) That although men might have been seen wounded in our line, the difficultiesof getting back to a dressing station were so great and the shell fire so heavy that unless official notification of their evacuation has since been received it is extremely unlikely that these men ever reached a place of safety.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.'