Pte
Sarsfield Rodney Andrews
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1882 |
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Place of birth: Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
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: 4132 |
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Enlistment date: 17/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 50th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 27/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Westhoek, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 35 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 29N |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
In August 1915 the 33-year old labourer Sarsfield Rodney Andrews enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force. He was taken on by the 50th Battalion Australian Infantry A.I.F (13th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division).
On 26 September 1917 the 50th Battalion A.I.F. took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood, a sub battle in the Battle of Passchendaele. Before the attack a red stripe was painted on the back of the steel helmets of the 50th Bn. attacking the Red Line (first objective, Albania) , blue for the 49th and 51st Bn. attacking the Blue Line (second objective, Tokio and Brick Kiln & Yard). Jump off line was established near Anzac House. All objectives were met. Regimental Aid Post (R.A.P.) was established too far away from the objective so evacuation of the wounded was slow. Battalion Headquarter and R.A.P. were situated north of Westhoek (J.7.b.7.9.).
During the attack the 50th battalion suffered 178 casualties (4 officers and 174 soldiers), private Sarsfield Andrews being one of them. According to his Service Record he was buried at J.7.b.7.9. near the battalion HQ and R.A.P. After the war his body was never found and he is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
On 26 September 1917 the 50th Battalion A.I.F. took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood, a sub battle in the Battle of Passchendaele. Before the attack a red stripe was painted on the back of the steel helmets of the 50th Bn. attacking the Red Line (first objective, Albania) , blue for the 49th and 51st Bn. attacking the Blue Line (second objective, Tokio and Brick Kiln & Yard). Jump off line was established near Anzac House. All objectives were met. Regimental Aid Post (R.A.P.) was established too far away from the objective so evacuation of the wounded was slow. Battalion Headquarter and R.A.P. were situated north of Westhoek (J.7.b.7.9.).
During the attack the 50th battalion suffered 178 casualties (4 officers and 174 soldiers), private Sarsfield Andrews being one of them. According to his Service Record he was buried at J.7.b.7.9. near the battalion HQ and R.A.P. After the war his body was never found and he is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
Sources 8
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"Passchendaele The Day-By-Day Account", McCarthy C., Uniform, 2018, pp. 94-95 Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=5970 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1597419/sarsfield-andrews/ Sources used |
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Embarkation Roll https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=andrews&people_service_number=4132&people_unit= Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3033635&isAv=N Sources used |
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the Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |
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War Diary 13th Australian Brigade September 1917 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343176 Sources used |
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War Diary September 1917 50th Bn. A.I.F. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1345876 Sources used |