The AIF Project

Joseph BROWNRIDGE

Regimental number1843
Place of birthLeeds, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarm labourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Next of kinFather, G W Brownridge, 366 York Road, Leeds, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date21 December 1914
Place of enlistmentTraralgon, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 14 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularEnlisted 21 December 1914 - 5th Bn, 4th Reinforcements. Taken on strength, 5th Bn, 27 May 1915. Transferred to 58th Bn, 1 April 1916; to 59th Bn, 4 April 1916.
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Age at death21
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 15), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
167
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Taken on strength of 5th Bn, Anzac, 27 May 1915.

Admitted to HS 'Newmarket', Dardanelles, 31 May 1915 (measles); transferred to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Lemnos, 1 June 1915; discharged to duty, 23 June 1915.

Admitted to No 2 Field Ambulance, then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, Anzac, 21 July 1915, (gastro enteritis); to Fleet Sweeper, 24 July 1915; to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, Lemnos, 24 July 1915; to No 1 Australian Hospital, Lemnos, 3 August 1915; to No 24 Casualty Clearing Station, Lemnos, 6 August 1915; classified as Class B, Mudros, 10 August 1915; to ANZAC Advanced Base, Mudros, 30 October 1915.

Found guilty, 18 November 1915, of being absent from 0630 hours Parade: awarded 1 day's confined to barracks.

Still classified as Class B, 27 November 1915, and 4 December 1915.

Embarked Mudros, 7 January 1916; disembarked Alexandria, 10 January 1916; marched in Overseas' Base, Abbassia, 11 January 1916.

Admitted to Abbassia Detention Barracks, Abbassia, 23 January 1916 (venereal disease); discharged to duty, 19 March 1916.

To 'A' Details, Garrison Camp, Zeitoun, 27 March 1916.

Proceeded to join 58th Bn from 2nd Training Bn, Zeitoun, 28 March 1916; taken on strength of 58th Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916.

Transferred to 59th Bn, 4 April 1916; taken on strength of 59th Bn, Ferry Post, 4 April 1916.

Admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 4 April 1916 (not yet diagnosed); discharged to duty the same day.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Note on B.103, 'presumed buried in No Man's Land approx at 5J9043 to 5K0251 Sheet Hazebrouck 5a'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 590802, 3945 Sergeant J.G. STEPHEN, 59th Bn, 4 September 1916: 'He was shot on July 19th. at fleurbaix. We were in the charge. He was a few feet behind me. I saw him go down apparently killed. I had to go on in the charge and did not see him again. I fear he was killed outright.'

Second statement, 2874 Sergeant N.F. McDOUGALL, D Company, 59th Bn (patient, No 26 General Hospital, Etaples), 22 December 1916: 'He wnt out with bombing party and was sniped on Nomansland (sic). Cpl. Barr told me.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BROWNRIDGE Joseph
Red Cross file 590802

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