Cpl
Alfred Leonard Child
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1881 |
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Place of birth: Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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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: Corporal |
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Service number: 893 |
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Enlistment date: 21/08/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Morphettville, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 02/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Albania Woods Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 36 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 17B |
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 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alfred Leonard Child was born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire in 1881, the son of George and Emma Snapes. Before the war, Alfred served in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in India for eleven years. After his service he emigrated to Australia, working as a labourer. On 24 August 1914 Child enlisted as a private at Morphettville (Adelaide) South Australia, joining “D” Company, 10th Battalion, Australian Infantry, part of the 3rd Australian Brigade, of the 1st Australian Division. He was later promoted to corporal.
On the night of 30 September and 1 October 1917 the 10th Battalion Australian Infantry set out to the front to relieve the troops holding the line. This relief was completed at 00:30 a.m. The battalion held the support line north of Polygon Wood and west of Albania Wood, with “A” and “C” company in front and “B” and “D” company in rear. They held this position from the 1st until the late evening of 2 October 1917. During their stay the battalion came under artillery fire, causing heavy casualties.
Between the 1st and 3rd of October 1917 the battalion suffered 61 casualties, both wounded and killed. Corporal Alfred Leonard Child was one of these casualties, being killed on 2 October 1917. After the war his body was not recovered or identified. He is commemorated on the Menin Cate Memorial, panel 17B.
On the night of 30 September and 1 October 1917 the 10th Battalion Australian Infantry set out to the front to relieve the troops holding the line. This relief was completed at 00:30 a.m. The battalion held the support line north of Polygon Wood and west of Albania Wood, with “A” and “C” company in front and “B” and “D” company in rear. They held this position from the 1st until the late evening of 2 October 1917. During their stay the battalion came under artillery fire, causing heavy casualties.
Between the 1st and 3rd of October 1917 the battalion suffered 61 casualties, both wounded and killed. Corporal Alfred Leonard Child was one of these casualties, being killed on 2 October 1917. After the war his body was not recovered or identified. He is commemorated on the Menin Cate Memorial, panel 17B.
Sources 6
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=51797 Sources used |
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Chris McCarthy, Passchendaele : The Day-by-Day account, 2018, 106-107. Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1598251/alfred-leonard-child/ Sources used |
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Service Record (The National Archives of Australia) https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/1st-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary (Australian War Memorial) https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/AWM4 Sources used |