Pte
Wilfred Edgard Cole
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1898 |
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Place of birth: Woolwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Dinyarrak, 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: 6237 |
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Enlistment date: 07/06/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 22nd Bn. (Victoria) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: No. 3 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Plot: III Row: F Grave: 3B |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Wilfred Edgar Cole was the youngest son of Arthur Henry and Agnes Cole. He was born around 1898 in Woolwich, England and worked as a labourer. Despite his British ancestry, Wilfred, like his brother Frank, moved to Australia, where he enlisted in the army in June 1916. He joined the 22nd Battalion (6th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division). His older brother Frank Henry was also in the same battalion.
On 4 October 1917, Wilfred was mortally wounded during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. His brother Frank was also killed on that day. On 4 October, the 6th Brigade pursued retreating German troops and helped take the hamlet itself. The 22nd Battalion began the attack in the castle domain that day. The start line was between 28.D.28.c.5.5 and 28.D.28.a.15.25.
Just before the start of the attack, a shell hit the trench where the battalion was ready. His brother Frank was killed instantly. Wilfred was wounded in the chest and thigh by shrapnel. He was taken to No. 3 Stationary Hospital in Rouen. There he died of his wounds at 12.10pm on 9 October 1917.
Wilfred Edgar Cole is today buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen. His grave is in plot P, row F, grave 3B.
On 4 October 1917, Wilfred was mortally wounded during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. His brother Frank was also killed on that day. On 4 October, the 6th Brigade pursued retreating German troops and helped take the hamlet itself. The 22nd Battalion began the attack in the castle domain that day. The start line was between 28.D.28.c.5.5 and 28.D.28.a.15.25.
Just before the start of the attack, a shell hit the trench where the battalion was ready. His brother Frank was killed instantly. Wilfred was wounded in the chest and thigh by shrapnel. He was taken to No. 3 Stationary Hospital in Rouen. There he died of his wounds at 12.10pm on 9 October 1917.
Wilfred Edgar Cole is today buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen. His grave is in plot P, row F, grave 3B.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Frank Henry Cole
Brother |
Sources 5
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22nd Battalion Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/39/26) https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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6th Brigade Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/6/26). 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, COLE W E). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris, Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018), 98-99 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/26943 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=c6cf57e3-a338-4340-9d9a-d760990e99c2 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7392997 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=57514 |