The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to join 55th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Communicated by Foreign Office, 3 October 1916: 'Identity disc and Pay-book forwarded through Berne to Foreign Office 27 September 1916. Previously reported MISSING, 20/7/16, now reported KILLED IN ACTION 20/7/16.'

Note on file: '... australische, Kriegegefangene Thompson, Alfred, Sold. D.Kp. 55. austr. Bn. am 20.7.16 veratorben ist.'

Note on Red Cross File No 2730104: 'Identity disc received from Germany and despatched to N/K. 24.1.17.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Note on file: 'Central Enquiry Office, Royal Prussian War Office: This certifies that we hold a death card Ref: 111, which states that the Australian Prisoner of War Pte. Alfred Thompson, D. Coy. 55th Battn. died on 20/7/16. Notified by Army Corps 6.'

Letter, mother to Base Records, 8 May 1917: '... I also want to ask about my Sons deferred pay. I am told here I cant get it till his papers come through. I did not trouble about the pension as I did not sell my Sons life but he gave it of his own free will, and it is only fair [underlined] that I should have what he earned. The flower of this country have been taken while the pleasure seeker & shirker stay behind. They will reap there reward from a higher power than ours.'

Copy of letter, mother to Base Records, 27 September 1921: 'Enclosed are 2 slips showing that my son's body was taken by the Germans, as when the stretcher bearer went back to look for him, after takeing (sic) his mate (George Orchard) to the station his body was no where about. I found out the name of the place where my son's division was in action on the 19th July 1916 - (Fermelles) I don't know the correct way to spell it.' Note attached: 'Killed 20.7.16 at Fromelles and buried by the Germans.'