The AIF Project

Laurence OLDFIELD

Date of birth29 February 1892
Place of birthMelbourne Victoria
Other training1st year education (Arts), University of Melbourne, Victoria
OccupationSchool master
AddressMelbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 5"
Weight144 lbs
Next of kinGuardian, Sister Esther Oldfield, Church of England Mission, 261 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the 60th Infantry, Citizen Military Forces (Carlton).
Enlistment date26 August 1915
Rank on enlistmentLieutenant
Unit name6th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/23/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 26 August 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll2nd Lieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll6th Battalion
FateDied of wounds 26 June 1916
Place of death or wounding2nd Casualty Clearing Station
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Next of kin advised 'dangerously ill', 25 October 1915. Admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 5 November 1915 (typhoid fever); removed from 'dangerously ill' list, 8 November 1915.

Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Themistocles', 2 January 1916 (typhoid fever).

Re-embarked, 22nd Bn, 12th Reinforcements, on board HT 'Euripides', 14 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 May 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 26 May 1916; taken on strength, 22nd Bn, 9 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 25 June 1916 (multiple shell wounds, head and back; gun shot wounds, back and thigh), and admitted to 6th Field Ambulance. Transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, 26 June 1916, and died of wounds there, same day.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Foster-Mother/Guardian, Sister Esther Oldfield, wrote to Base Records, 5 August 1920: 'I am the foster mother of the late 2nd Lieut. L. Oldfield, and he has no blood relations whatsoever. He was given to me some 28 years ago a helpless forsaken babe, & until he went to the war, was never far away. We could never trace any parents; but he boy never wanted a mother's care since I have had him, and his name is on the Honour Roll of Trinity College, University, where he was doing his Arts course, & he was in the University Rifles. I am therefore his only next of kin and his Will, which I have proved, was in my favour. He was a great joy to me & proved a Christian gentleman, never giving me a moment's anxiety. I was advised to apply for his War Gratuity, but I am not certain if a foster mother is entitled to it. I have been too busy to enquire. I have written fully, and what have said can be proved true by countless people.'
Miscellaneous detailsName entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as Lawrence.

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