The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 14 April 1916; disembarked Suez,17 May 1916.

Reallotted to 14th Training Bn as Reinforcement to 56th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 24 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 21 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916; taken on strength, 56th Bn, in the field, 26 July 1916.

Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 27 August 1916 (scalded foot), and transferred same day to 5th Divisional Rest Station; discharged to duty, 1 October 1916; rejoined Bn, in the field, 2 October 1916.

Wounded in action, 2 April 1917 (gun shot wound, right leg); admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, 3 April 1917; transferred to Ambulance Train, 5 April 1917, and admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 6 April 1917. Transferred to England, 17 April 1917, and admitted same day to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham; discharged on furlough, 26 May 1917, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 11 June 1917.

Found guilty, Perham Downs, 14 June 1917, of being absent without leave from 3.30 pm, 11 June, to 4 pm, 13 June: awarded 7 days' confined to camp, and forfeited 3 days' pay under Royal Warrant.

Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 5 December 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 3 January 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 9 January 1918.

Detached for duty to 184th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, 20 February 1918; rejoined 56th Bn from detachment, 24 March 1918.

Killed in action, 17 April 1918.

Statement on Red Cross File No 1621002 from 3181 Pte W.J. McGRATH, 56th Bn (patient, Australian Convalescent Camp, Rouelles), 26 September 1918: 'He was killed by a shell at Villers Brettoneux (sic). I did not see it but was there when he was brought out and was one of the burial party.'

Second statement, 5379 Pte G.E. FORD, 56th Bn, 298 December 1918: 'We were in front of Villers Bretonneux, holding the line. Fritz opened up pretty strong about midday April 17th on [the] portion of trench held by B. Coy., 5th Batn. The first shell shell killed Lieut. Spratt's batman McGrath, a runner Gagen - the next killed Long and Cpl. Fissenden and Pte Martin. The trench was badly battered. The Coy. Stretcher Bearers went out in day-light, including myself and brought the men in. It was always a hot corner and never before approached in daylight. No casualties in recovering the bodies. At dusk we carried them to the Batn. H.Q., in village of Villers Brettonneux (sic), and from there to Aubigny and burial (sic) them alongside a road in a new Cemetery just started.'

Third statement, 1719 Pte R.R. PRETTY, 56th Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 10 December 1918: 'I helped bury him on 20/4/18 at a Military Cemetery at Aubigny. He had been killed at Villers Bretonneux. From his wounds I feel sure he was killed outright. I prepared his body for burial and helped bury him.'