The AIF Project

Douglas CASWELL

Regimental number397
Place of birthWorcester, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationButcher
AddressMitchell Street, Stockton, Newcastle, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8.5"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinFather, Eberon Caswell, Mitchell Street, Stockton, Newcastle, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil ('resided outside Military District')
Enlistment date16 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name30th Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/47/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll30th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
115
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915.

Admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary hospital, Tel el Kebir, 12 March 1916 (diptheria); discharged to unit, 23 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916.

Missing, 20 July 1916.

'Identification Disc received from Germany. No particulars were afforded except that Soldier was deceased. May now be reported "KILLED IN ACTION" 20/7/16.'

Red Cross File No 710210 has statement from 792 Pte A.C. WALKER, 28 August 1916: 'I knew Caswell; his initial was D. He was in the original Bn. and he was in B.V. No. 1 Section. I saw him lying wounded in No Man's Land on 19.7.16 at Fleurbaix, between 8 and 9 p.m. This was in the 4th. wave and he and I were carrying ammunition. He was hit in the hip and leg and could not get up but rolled into a shell hole and had to be left. 2 of my mates and I went back to where we left him and although I am perfectly sure that we found the place where we had left him the shell hole was then filled in. I feel quite sure that he must have been killed and buried and not taken prisoner.'

Second statement, 2157 Pte C.F. SIMPSON (patient, Lakenham Hospital, Norwich, England), 3 January 1917: 'Informant states that on July 19th. 1916 at Fluerbaix (sic) he saw Caswell killed by Machine Gun, he does not think he was buried, he fell in No Man's Land.'

Red Cross File p. 12: copy of statement from Central Enquiry Office, Royal Prussian War Office: 'Identity disc [of CASWELL, D.] handed in by left property office Army Corps 6 on 12.10.16.'

The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CASWELL Douglas
Red Cross file 710210

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