The AIF Project

Arthur Leonard BIRCHETT

Regimental number237
Place of birthLondon, England
SchoolBoarding School, London, England
Age on arrival in Australia16
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressPort Pirie, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 7"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs. J. Birchett, 32 Roding Road, Homerton, London, England
Previous military serviceServed as a bugler in the Merchant Service, on board 'Otway', 'Omrah', and 'Tainui'. Served in Australian Light Horse, New South Wales, for 20 months; also served for 12 months (and still serving at time of AIF enlistment) in 24th Light Horse.
Enlistment date27 August 1914
Place of enlistmentMorphettville, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentTrumpeter
Unit name3rd Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/8/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 22 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Light Horse Regiment
FateDied of wounds 27 May 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death28 May 1915
Age at death20
Age at death from cemetery records20
Place of burialAt sea
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 3), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
3
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Ellen BIRCHETT, 32 Roding Road, Homerton, London, England
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 9 May 1915.

Wounded in action, Monash Valley, 28 May 1915 (gun shot wound, neck: serious).

Died of wounds at sea on board HS 'Gascon', 28 May 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BIRCHETT Arthur Leonard

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