The AIF Project

Albert Henry BACKLER

Regimental number261
Date of birth12 September 1892
Place of birthKingston, South Australia
SchoolKingston Public School, Kingston, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSaddler
AddressKingston, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 9"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinFather, Henry Thomas Backler, Kingston, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the 22nd Light Horse, Kingston; still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date15 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll15 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
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.
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from
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 RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Date of death20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 4), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Henry Thomas and Elizabeth Backler, Kingston, 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.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement on file, 117 Pte I.J. ISAAC, 31 January 1917: 'I saw him wounded in the charge at Fromelles on July 19th. He was taken away next morning. Sgt. robinson, S/B. A. Coy, helped to carry him. I am certain he got away safely.'

Note on Red Cross File No 410201: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BACKLER Albert Henry
Red Cross file 410201
Red Cross file 171002

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