Regimental number | 1128 |
Place of birth | Penrith, New South Wales |
School | Cleveland High School, New South Wales |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Occupation | Cook |
Address | 101 Trafalgar Street, Annandale, Sydney, New South Wales |
Marital status | Married |
Age at embarkation | 30 |
Height | 5' 3" |
Weight | 111 lbs |
Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Elsie May Aitchison, 101 Trafalgar Street, Annandale, Sydney, New South Wales |
Previous military service | Served in the Royal Navy HMS 'Pioneer', in the capacity as cook. |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 18th Battalion, D Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/35/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A40 Ceramic on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 18th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Gallipoli, Turkey |
Date of death | |
Age at death | 31 |
Place of burial | Hill 60 Cemetery (Secial. Memorial 1), Gallipoli, Turkey. |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 84 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: David Frith and Elsie AITCHISON; husband of Elsie Mary AITCHISON, 10 Banks Avenue, Daceyville, New South Wales. Native of Penrith, New South Wales |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 August 1915. Reported missing, between 21 and 25 August 1915. Court of Enquiry, held at Tel el Kebir, 16 January 1916, concluded: 'Reasonable to suppose dead'. Statement, Red Cross File No 00401016, 1168 Sergeant R.J. EVERSON, 18th Bn (patient, Montazah Convalescent Camp, Egypt), 4 November 1915: 'Witness says it was common knowledge that Aitchison on Aug. 22 in an advanced trench had all the front of his face blown off and no medical aid was obtainable, he was still alive when the fellows who told Everson left the trench but he seemed a hopeless case. A lot of men were buried round this spot a few days after.' Second statement, 1313 Pte J. WHITE, D Company, 18th Bn (patient, All Saints' Hospital, Malta), 12 November 1915: 'On the 27th Aug. we were close to Hill [?]. We left our trench, charged and took an advanced trench from which we had to retire to our old quarters. There we saw Aitchison lying with his face terribly injured but not quite dead. The bearers refused to move him as his case was hopeless. He died.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, AITCHISON Alexander Walker
Red Cross File No 00401016 |