The AIF Project

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 18 May 1916; found guilty, at sea, 26 June 1916, of smoking between decks: forfeited 4 days' pay; disembarked Plymouth, England, 20 July 1916.

Found guilty, 11 September 1916, of being absent without leave, 10 pm, 10 September, till 8.30 am, 11 September 1916: awarded 14 days' confined to barracks and forfeiture of 7 days' pay; total forfeiture: 8 days' pay.

Found guilty, 14 November 1916, of being absent without leave from midnight, 12 November, till 6 pm, 13 November: awarded forfeiture of 3 days' pay; total forfeiture: 4 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 24 November 1916.

Admitted to 9th Australian Field Ambulance, 28 March 1917 (scabies); transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 30 March 1917; discharged to duty, 3 April 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 7 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 4 October 1917 (shrapnel wound, arm), and admitted to 64th Field Ambulance, and transferred to 37th Casualty Clearing Station; to 14th General Hospital, Wimereux, 5 October 1917; to 1st Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 2 november 1917; to 3rd Australian General Base Depot, Rouelles, 8 November 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 17 November 1917.

Found guilty, 7 November 1917, of when on Active Service, being absent from 9 pm, 4 November, till reporting at 9.33 am, 5 November: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 1; forfeited a total of 9 days' pay.

On leave to England, 1 February 1918; rejoined Bn, 16 February 1918.

Killed in action, 4 July 1918.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2150805L, 2930 Pte A. TAYLOR, 41st Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 16 October 1918: 'At Hamel stunt on 4th July. Killed by shell in reserve trenches. Killed at once in the early morning[.] He was close to me at the time. I knew him very well. I enquired where buried and the C/S/M told me he was buried close to the Canal.'

Second statement, 3013 Pte Frederick ARCHER, 41st Bn,15 October 1918: 'I knew him very well. He was medium built with reddish hair, aboutr 23, and was a noted character, as well as being a very cheery chap, always jolly. About the 4th Julu we were at Hamelette. About 4 a.m. we attacked, and before we started he was killed by Friz' barrage fire. He was hit in the head and killed right out [sic]. His body was taken and buried at Dayhouse [sic]. I saw the occurrence.'

Third statement, 3223 Pte R.G. COURT, 41st Bn (patient, No 16 General Hospital, Le Treport), 16 October 1918: 'He was in B. Coy. V Platoon. The 41st was the reserve Battalion for the brigade at that time. The German barrage started at 3 a.m. We were in front of Corbie. About 7 a.m. a shell landed in the trench, killing him outright. I was about 20 yards away from him at the time and I saw him being carried away. He was afterwards buried by our padre in a military cemetery close to Corbie.'

Fourth statement, 2117 Lance Corporal C. McLENNEN, 41st Bn, 29 October 1918: ' Whwen during an attack just outside Hamel about 8 a.m. and we were in support trenches. I saw Pickering hit by a shell, it killing him instantly. His body was taken back that night for burial. He would be buried, I believe, in the cemetery between Corbie and Hamel.'

Seven other statements.