Albert Alexander PATON

Regimental number2508
Place of birthBowen, Queensland
SchoolState School, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCarpenter
AddressAlbury, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation45
Height5' 9"
Weight160 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs F.M. Paton, Wilcox Street, Albury, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the Militia for 10 years; second Attestation Form says served for 5 years in the Infantry, Tasmania.
Enlistment date8 October 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll9 March 1916
Place of enlistmentBroadmeadows, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 14 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll31st Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1918
Place of death or woundingPozieres, Somme Sector, France
Age at death47
Age at death from cemetery records45
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James and Susan PATON; husband of F.M. PATON. Native of Bowen, Queensland
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 14 March 1916; disembarked Suez, 15 April 1916.

Proceeded to join unit from 8th Training Bn, Tel el Kebir, 25 May 1916; taken on strength 31st Bn, Ferry Post, 25 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Previous report of missing now, 13 August 1916, to be reported as 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'.

Statement on Red Cross File No 2100801, 246 Sergeant F. LAW, A Company, 31st Bn, 24 November 1916: 'I know his disc has been handed in to H.Q. I believe he was killed by H.E. early in the attack.'

Second statement, Sergeant LAW (patient, King George Hospital, London, England): 'Informant states that after July 20/16 at Fromelles Pte. Paton's body was seen near the German lines on No Man's Land. but they were unable to recover it, as after holding the German trench for one night they had to retire, having, however, accomplished their objective (to keep the Germans busy at that part).'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, PATON Albert Alexander
Red Cross file 2100801