| Regimental number | 1701 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | 72 Lang Street, South Yarra, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24.8 |
| Height | 5' 3.5" |
| Weight | 143 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Charles Attfield, 72 Lang Street, South Yarra, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 5th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/22/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Battalion |
| Fate | Died |
| Place of burial | Old Cairo War Cemetery, Egypt |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli Taken on strength, 5th Bn, Gallipoli, 5 May 1915. Wounded in action, 26 May 1916 (gun shot wound, back and left hand: slight); admitted to 17th General Hospital, Alexandria, 31 May 1915; transferred to Convalescent Hospital, 3 June 1915; discharged to Base Depot, Mustapha, 3 July 1915; rejoined Bn at Gallipoli, 9 July 1915. Admitted to Hospital Ship, Mudros, 2 August 1915 (gastro-enteritis); transferred to 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 7 August 1915; discharged to Base Details, 18 August 1915. Declared an Illegal Absentee, 27 February 1919. Discharged from the AIF in consequence of being Illegally Absent, 21 July 1920. Subsequent investigation revealed that a Court of Enquiry, 31 January 1916, into the death of a soldier found near the Gizeh Camp, concluded that the individual could not be identified, and that the cause of death could be 'conclusively' attributed to asphyxia due to strangulation. Base Records, 17 May 1916, concluded: 'As Private Attfield was the only absentee from O'Seas Base, Ghezireh [where Attfield was recorded as having entered on 6 January 1916] during January, 1916, there appears to be a p[ossibility of his being identical with this unknown Australian soldier.' Discharge on grounds of desertion subsequently cancelled. |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ATTFIELD Edward |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
