Alexander Stanley CLINGAN

Regimental number3168
Place of birthWaterloo, Sydney, New South Wales
SchoolNewtown Superior Public School, New South Wales
ReligionMethodist
OccupationLabourer
Address31 Union Street, Newtown, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 9"
Weight148 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Ruth Clingan, 31 Union Street, Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date8 August 1915
Place of enlistmentWarwick Farm, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name1st Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/18/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll53rd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death22
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row E, Grave No 8), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
156
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Ruth CLINGAN. Native of Waterloo, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength of 1st Bn, Tel el Kebir, 6 January 1916.

Found guilty, 7 February 1916, of being absent from parade, 7 February 1916; awarded 6 days' confined to barracks.

Transferred to 53rd Bn, 13 February 1916; taken on strength, 53rd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 14 February 1916.

Found guilty, 13 May 1916, Ferry Post, of neglect to obey an order of an N.C.O.; awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Rejoined unit from detention, Ferry Post, 21 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, Alexandria, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 June 1916.

Reported missing in action, 19 July 1916.

'Identification disc received from Germany', 13 February 1917. 'No particulars afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported KILLED IN ACTION, 19/7/16' on the authority of Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, War Office, 24 February 1917.

Report from the Australian Red Cross, Wounded and Missing Bureau, 15 October 1920, 'Clingan A. S. 3168. 53. Batl. A.T.F. Fell 19.7.1916 near Fromelles. Final German Death List, S'.

On 1 August 1921 Base Records wrote to the mother of Pte Clingan, Mrs Ruth Clingan, and asked if she had 'and letters or communications that contain any reference to the circumstances surrounding his death, particularly the exact locality at which it occurred or where he was last seen alive.' Mrs Clingan replied, 'I have never received definite information as to whether my son was missing after Fromelles or Fleuxbaix. The military informed me that he was missing July 19th, 1916. His mates have told me that they saw him go over on that date but did not see him again. It was through the efforts of the Red Cross that I found out that his name appeared in a German newspaper but whether the death was due to wounds or otherwise I do not know. The information from the Red Cross was forwarded to Base Records and the enclosed memo dated 16/7/17 ... '

Red Cross File No 751006: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 7), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
SourcesNAA: B2455, CLINGAN Alexander Stanley
Red Cross File No 751006