Pte
Albert William Reeves
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1894 |
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Place of birth: Dargo, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Boisdale, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 1049 |
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Enlistment date: 07/04/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Sale, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 37th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Waterfields, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XX Row: B Grave: 12 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Sterfteplaats | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert William Reeves was the son of Arthur Samuel Reeves. He was born around 1894 in Dargo, Victoria. Before the war, he lived in Boisdale, Victoria, and worked as a labourer. Albert enlisted in the Australian Army and served in the 37th Battalion Australian Infantry Regiment (10th Brigade, 3rd Division).
Albert was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 37th Battalion launched its attack in front of Augustus Wood with the objective of advancing to Crest Farm. At 5:25 a.m. the assault began. Artillery and machine-gun fire during the advance was heavy. Pillboxes were attacked and German soldiers were taken prisoner. The battalion reached its objective but could not consolidate. The unit therefore withdrew about 50 yards and dug in under machine-gun fire.
The shelling of the battalion headquarters, which was located at Hamburg Farm, was also intense. The remaining officers and men in the front line established themselves in new positions about 100 yards further back. Stretcher-bearers were busy evacuating the wounded, a difficult task: not only did the condition of the ground hinder evacuation, but the constant shelling of the aid post near Dab Trench made the provision of first aid extremely difficult. Even the stretcher-bearers were not safe from the shelling.
The captured line was able to be held, and contact was made with the New Zealanders on their left and the 9th Australian Brigade on their right. There were no further German attempts to launch a counterattack. Casualties were high: 28 killed, 179 wounded, and 37 missing.
Albert was killed at the age of 23. According to his service record, his body was buried about 300 yards south of Waterfields. After the war, his body was found near Waterfields. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Albert was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 37th Battalion launched its attack in front of Augustus Wood with the objective of advancing to Crest Farm. At 5:25 a.m. the assault began. Artillery and machine-gun fire during the advance was heavy. Pillboxes were attacked and German soldiers were taken prisoner. The battalion reached its objective but could not consolidate. The unit therefore withdrew about 50 yards and dug in under machine-gun fire.
The shelling of the battalion headquarters, which was located at Hamburg Farm, was also intense. The remaining officers and men in the front line established themselves in new positions about 100 yards further back. Stretcher-bearers were busy evacuating the wounded, a difficult task: not only did the condition of the ground hinder evacuation, but the constant shelling of the aid post near Dab Trench made the provision of first aid extremely difficult. Even the stretcher-bearers were not safe from the shelling.
The captured line was able to be held, and contact was made with the New Zealanders on their left and the 9th Australian Brigade on their right. There were no further German attempts to launch a counterattack. Casualties were high: 28 killed, 179 wounded, and 37 missing.
Albert was killed at the age of 23. According to his service record, his body was buried about 300 yards south of Waterfields. After the war, his body was found near Waterfields. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 5
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37th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/54/16). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1057374). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455 REEVES A W). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 129-130. Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464393 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/05d9e52d-592c-4b13-979d-b1fe00bcbdb2 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7558552 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=251675 |