The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez ex-HMAT 'Wandilla', 7 December 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing in action, 20 July 1916.

Previously reported Missing, now KILLED IN ACTION, 19-20 July 1916.

Handwritten note on B103: 'Buried in the vicinity of Fleurbaix Sh. 36. NW.'

Statement, Red Cross File No 871003, 229 Pte Norman JONES, 31st Bn (patient, Thorpe Hospital, Norwich, England), 10 October 1916: 'Informant states that on 19-20. July at Fleurbaix he saw Dank killed and obtained his disc later on which was handed in.'

Second statement, 231 Pte A.R.P. JACKSON, 31st Bn (patient, No 8 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne), 17 October 1916: 'After the attack on July 19th on the Fromelles front Dank reported amongst the missing - About a fortnight later one morning about 5 am. there was a very thick fog, the enemy at Fromelles were only 70yds from our trenches so up to then it had been impossible to send parties out to look for missing, under cover of the fog parties went out to identify bodies and fetch in rifles and equipment, the party came upon a body they recognised as Danks and to make it doubly sure they found scribbled on his helmet, which was lying beside him, his name and initials in indelible pencil, it was not possible to bury anyone that morning as fog was lifting and they had to get back.'

Third statement, 206 Corporal W.J. GRAHAM, A Company, 31st Bn (patient, King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England), 20 October 1916: 'Informant states that on 12th August 1916 at Fleurbaix his body was found, he had been shot some time previously.'

Fourth statement, 313 Sergeant A. WILLIAMS, 31st Bn (patient, High Rough Military Hospital, Haslemere, Surrey, England), 18 November 1916: 'Informant states that on the night of the 19th July or early morning of the 20th at Fleurbaix, Dank was killed and was seen by Informant who took his papers, disc and hat and his body was left in No Man's Land.'

Fifth statement, 263 Pte D. McInerney, A company, 31st Bn (patient, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England), 25 november 1916: '[183] Cpl. [H.A.] Dank, brother of C.C. Dank, is somewhere in Hospital. He told me that his brother, C.C.[,] had been killed at Fromelles on 19th July. He was brought in from No Man's Land and buried at Fromelles.'