The AIF Project

Alfred DAEMEN

Regimental number737
Place of birthAbbotsbury, Dorset, England
SchoolElementary School, Abbotsbury, Dorset, England
Age on arrival in Australia25
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 9.25"
Weight156 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs E. Daemen, West Street, Abbotsbury, Dorset, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date19 October 1914
Place of enlistmentToowoomba, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name15th Battalion, E Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/32/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll15th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular'He was employed in England as a Footman & Butler. Arrived in Australia February 1909, landed at Sydney. His first job was clearing "Bush", afterwards assistant to a land surveyor, and later employed at Gasworks in Brisbane.' (details from mother)
FateKilled in Action 9 May 1915
Date of death9 May 1915
Age at death31
Age at death from cemetery records31
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 45), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 12 April 1915.

Reported missing, 9 May 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held at Serapeum, 6-8-28 April 1916, declared fate to be 'Killed in action, 9 May 1915'.

Red Cross File No 0870110H, Statement, 749 Corporal H.G. HUGHES, C Company, 15th Bn (patient, Ghain Tuffieha Hospital, Malta), 20 November 1915: 'Witness knew him personally. they were in same half company but Daemen was in 10 platoon. Witness saw him go into action on May 9 at Quinn's post near Anzac. He was carrying ammunition after the taking of the trenches. The attack started at 9 p.m. He and witness were carrying ammunition to the trench which was captured about 10 p.m. Never saw him again.'

Second statement, 763 Sergeant Major F.J. MERRELL, 15th Bn, 22 December 1915: 'Witness states that there is no doubt Daemen was killed on May 15th. He states that 772 Pte R.T. Owens saw him killed and could give all details. He is now in hospital: 3rd London Gen. Hospital.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DAEMEN Alfred
Red Cross File No 0870110H

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