Sgt
Archibald Spalding Dick
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Wandong, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Miner |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 211 |
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Enlistment date: 28/02/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 18th Bn. (New South Wales) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 05/10/1917 |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 23 stone A |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Sergeant Archibald Spalding Dick served in the Australian Infantry 18th Battalion part of the 5nd Australian Brigade of the 2st Australian Division. Archibald was a 24 year old former miner from Warburton, Victoria, Australia. Together with his brother John (6th Bn. A.I.F.) and Henry (10th Company Australian Army Service Corps) he served in both Gallipoli, where he was wounded, and on the Western Front.
After the Battle of Broodseinde on 4th October 1917 all men of the 18th Bn. A.I.F. were subdivided in working parties. Working parties of 5 officers and 250 other ranks reported to the 6th Field Coy. Engineers at J.2.c.50.40, north of Westhoek, for carrying and laying duckwalks from Garter Point to Albania. A burial party of 1 officer and 30 other ranks were send forward to jumping off tape Zonnebeke and worked in conjunction with parties from other units. About 45 dead were buried. Orders to move forward were received and the 18th Bn. A.I.F. relieved the 24th Bn. A.I.F. in right sector of the line. One officer and 7 other ranks were killed, 11 other ranks were wounded.
Sergeant Archibald Spalding Dick was one of those 7 men who were reported killed in action on 5 of October 1917. His remains were never found or identified and today he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. His older brother John Dick was reported missing in action the day before and is also remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
A third brother, Driver Henry Dick of the 10th Company Australian Army Service Corps was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in Belgium only two weeks later, the recommendation stating, 'On 19th October, 1917, near WESTHOEK RIDGE, east of YPRES, this soldier was in charge of wagons delivering sleepers for track making in forward areas. The track behind them was blown to pieces by heavy enemy shell fire. He assisted in repairing and clearing the road for traffic which had become dangerously congested, and continued to carry on with his self imposed task on his own initiative, and with cool courage although the NCO in charge had been killed. His action with that of Drivers 7903 J.W. ELLIS and 8428 N.D. LACKIE, saved many valuable lives, horses and wagons as traffic was barely clear when the enemy put down further heavy shelling on the spot where traffic had been held up.' He was evacuated from France during 1918 suffering from severe debility and returned to Australia in January 1919.
After the Battle of Broodseinde on 4th October 1917 all men of the 18th Bn. A.I.F. were subdivided in working parties. Working parties of 5 officers and 250 other ranks reported to the 6th Field Coy. Engineers at J.2.c.50.40, north of Westhoek, for carrying and laying duckwalks from Garter Point to Albania. A burial party of 1 officer and 30 other ranks were send forward to jumping off tape Zonnebeke and worked in conjunction with parties from other units. About 45 dead were buried. Orders to move forward were received and the 18th Bn. A.I.F. relieved the 24th Bn. A.I.F. in right sector of the line. One officer and 7 other ranks were killed, 11 other ranks were wounded.
Sergeant Archibald Spalding Dick was one of those 7 men who were reported killed in action on 5 of October 1917. His remains were never found or identified and today he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. His older brother John Dick was reported missing in action the day before and is also remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
A third brother, Driver Henry Dick of the 10th Company Australian Army Service Corps was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in Belgium only two weeks later, the recommendation stating, 'On 19th October, 1917, near WESTHOEK RIDGE, east of YPRES, this soldier was in charge of wagons delivering sleepers for track making in forward areas. The track behind them was blown to pieces by heavy enemy shell fire. He assisted in repairing and clearing the road for traffic which had become dangerously congested, and continued to carry on with his self imposed task on his own initiative, and with cool courage although the NCO in charge had been killed. His action with that of Drivers 7903 J.W. ELLIS and 8428 N.D. LACKIE, saved many valuable lives, horses and wagons as traffic was barely clear when the enemy put down further heavy shelling on the spot where traffic had been held up.' He was evacuated from France during 1918 suffering from severe debility and returned to Australia in January 1919.
Connection to other soldiers 2
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Dick Henry
Brother |
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John Dick
Brother |
Sources 6
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=78580 Sources used |
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AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Dick+Archibald+Spalding&people_service_number=211&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1598763/ARCHIBALD%20SPALDING%20DICK/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3504514 Sources used |
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The Long long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/2nd-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342404 Sources used |