The AIF Project

Archibald Sydney Richard James BELLINGER

Regimental number442
Place of birthMillicent, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressFerner, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27
Height5' 7.75"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinFather, A H Bellinger, Ferner, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date5 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll30 June 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularEnlisted 30 June 1915. Taken on strength, 32nd Battalion, 16 August 1915. Mortally wounded, 19 July 1916.
FateDied of wounds 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Date of death20 July 1916
Age at death28
Place of burialBailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot II, Row F, Grave No. 17), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, ex-HMT 'Geelong', 18 December 1915.

Found guilty, 12 April 1916, of failing to have his blankets folded in a proper manner: awarded 2 days' confined to barracks.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 19 July 1916; admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, 19 July 1916 (gun shot wound, head).

Died of wounds, No 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 20 July 1916.

Buried at Bailleul Cemetery, 20 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 331001, 858 Sergeant H.T. CRAIN, A Company, 32nd Bn, 21 May 1917: 'I remember seeing him about July 20th before 6 a.m. in our front line at Fleurbaix. The lower part of his jaw had been blown away by a shell and it seemed quite impossible for him to live. This was about 300 yards from our dressing post to which I understood he got all right. I never saw more of him but heard he died.'

Second statement, Lt J.H. WATTS, B Company, 32nd Bn (patient, Kitchener's Hospital, Brighton, England), 23 May 1917: 'On July 20th 1916 Bellinger was in the trenches at Fleur Baix (sic) and took part in a divisional attack in which he was severely wounded in the face and throat. He was taken to the first aid station and later on I was informed that he had succumbed to his injuried. He was no doubt buried in a registered cemetery.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BELLINGER Archibald Sydney Richard James
Red Cross file 331001

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