The AIF Project

Keith Gordon CAMERON

Regimental number1796
Place of birthGoran Lake, New South Wales
SchoolPublic School, New South Wales
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationCarpenter
AddressApsley Street, Walcha, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 7.75"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinFather, Gordon Bruce Cameron, Apsley Street, Walcha, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date6 April 1916
Place of enlistmentArmidale, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name33rd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/50/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Port Sydney on 4 September 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll33rd Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Recommendation date: 6 April 1918

FateKilled in Action 31 August 1918
Place of death or woundingUnknown
Age at death22
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
121
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Gordon and Jane CAMERON, Allendale, Werris Creek, New South Wales
Medals

Military Medal

'For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty. In the counter attack by 33rd Battalion A.I.F. against the Marelgave-Aubercourt line on March 30th 1918, Lance Corporal CAMERON was in charge of a Lewis Gun Section. Throughout he displayed splendid courage, coolness and determination. Although all his team were casualties and he had to work over ploughed fields in very heavy rain, he kept his gun continuously in action. His platoon were reduced to ten men and were in a forward position entirely cut off. When the enemy withdrew he undoubtedly inflicted many casualties on them. His capable and determined handling of the gun was a potent factor in keeping the left flank firm. He did excellent work in repulsing a counter attack during the night.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 1
Date: 2 January 1919

Family/military connectionsBrother: 1797 Pte Dalley Henry CAMERON, 33rd Bn, returned to Australia, 11 May 1919.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Proceeded overseas to France from England, 20 December 1916; marched into 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 21 December 1916.

Taken on strength of 33rd Bn, 20 January 1917.

Wounded in action, 21 July 1917; admitted to No 11 Field Ambulance (gunshot wound, left thigh); discharged to duty, 21 July 1917, and rejoined unit the same day.

Admitted to No 11 Field Ambulance, 14 August 1917 (tonsillitis); transferred to No 9 Field Ambulance, 15 August 1917; to Divisional Rest Camp, 19 August 1917; rejoined unit, 21 August 1917.

Promoted Lance Corporal, 4 November 1917.

On leave to England, 26 January 1918; rejoined unit, 11 February 1918.

Wounded in action (2nd occasion), 17 April 1918; admitted to 2/3 Home Counties Field Ambulance, 17 April 1918 (gassed); transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 17 April 1918; to No 9 General Hospital, Rouen, 19 April 1918; to England, 26 April 1918; to Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, 27 April 1918; to No 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 3 May 1918; marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 6 May 1918.

Marched into No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 6 June 1918.

Marched into Overseas Training Bde, Longbridge Deverill, 21 June 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 17 July 1918; marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Rouelles, 18 July 1918.

Proceeded to unit, 20 July 1918; rejoined unit, 25 July 1918.

Killed in action, 31 August 1918.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CAMERON Keith Gordon

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