Regimental number | 261 |
Date of birth | |
Place of birth | Kingston, South Australia |
School | Kingston Public School, Kingston, South Australia |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Saddler |
Address | Kingston, South Australia |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 23 |
Height | 5' 9" |
Weight | 164 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, Henry Thomas Backler, Kingston, South Australia |
Previous military service | Served for 2 years in the 22nd Light Horse, Kingston; still serving at time of AIF enlistment. |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Place of enlistment | Keswick, South Australia |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 32nd Battalion, A Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
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 details | Unit 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 Roll | Lance Corporal |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
Date of death | |
Age at death from cemetery records | 25 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.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 |
Sources | NAA: B2455, BACKLER Albert Henry
Red Cross file 410201 Red Cross file 171002 |