The AIF Project

Arthur George BATT

Regimental number352
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia
SchoolHindmarsh Public School, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Age at embarkation31
Height6' 1.75"
Weight176 lbs
Next of kinFather, Charles Batt, Railway Terrace, Hilton, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Place of enlistmentAt sea
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of burialPheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Originally listed as 'No known grave'; listed on V.C. Corner, Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France. Parents: Son of Charles and Elizabeth BATT, Railway Terrace, Hilton, South Australia
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Previously reported Prisoner of War now reported killed in action 20 July 1916 after death report from Germany, 4 November 1916.

On 25 October 1917 the Military Pay Office, Northern Terrace, Adelaide, send a letter to Base Records in a response to a query by the brother of Pte Batt, Mr P. F. Batt. The letter inquired that 'the Brother of the above deceased soldier [Pte Batt] - Mr P.F. Batt, c/-Mrs Beaching, Flinders Street, Adelaide, S.A.[,] called yesterday advising that two undelivered letters addressed to his late Brother had been returned from your Office, with the word "Missing" crossed out, and marked in red ink Prisoner of War, 29/6/17 on the one, and Prisoner of War 30/6/17 on the other. According to your records the above deceased soldier was first reported "Missing" (date of notification 30/8/16)[.] Later on 21/5/17, he was reported Killed in Action on 20/7/16. His Brother states they were first advised "Missing" then "Prisoner of War", and lastly "Killed in action"[.] In view of the letters being marked in June 1917, "Prisoner of War", Mr Batt is anxious to know if you can give him any further information.' Base Records responded by writing directly to Mr P.F. Batt on 2 November 1917 and noted, 'I have to state the letters referred to would have been returned from the Base Post Office, not from this Office. Official advice by mail shows that your brother was Killed in action on 20th July 1916. This casualty was reported from Germany, per medium of the German-British Red Cross Death List. This will doubtless explain why he was unofficially reported Prisoner of War, Germany.'

German report 2 August 1916, 'austr. Sold. Batt, A.G, austr. Batt. 32 B.C.E. Nr.353. am 19.7.16. in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.'

Red Cross File No 280206: 'Name appears on German Death List dated 4-11-16.'

'Identity disc recd. From Germany and despatched to N/K 20.6.17.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsName does not appear on Embarkation Roll.
SourcesNAA: B2455, BATT Arthur George
Red Cross file 280206

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