The AIF Project

Archibald HANLEY

Regimental number2137
Place of birthAdelong, New South Wales
SchoolPublic School
ReligionMethodist
OccupationWheeler
AddressAdelong, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Next of kinFather, Charles P. Hanley, Taylor's lane, Kurri Kurri, New South Wales
Previous military service11th Infantry
Enlistment date25 August 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 18 February 1916
Regimental number from Nominal Roll2137A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
FateKilled in Action 8 August 1918
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)*Unit unreadable
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Son of Charles HANLEY, Mayfield Street, Cessnock, New South Wales
Family/military connections4 brothers and 7 cousins. One brother distinguished himself. 2 cousins died.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

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