Pte
Alfred Williamson
Information about birth
|
Year of birth: 1887 |
|
Place of birth: Footscray, Victoria, Australia |
General information
|
Last known residence: South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
Profession: Labourer |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: Australia |
|
Force: Australian Imperial Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 4784 |
|
Enlistment date: 31/01/1916 |
|
Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
Units: — Australian Infantry, 24th Bn. (Victoria) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 02/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Brick Kiln & Yard, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 30 |
Cemetery
|
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery Plot: V Row: A Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
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
Alfred Williamson, a former labourer, was born in June, 1887 in Footscray, Victoria, Australia. He was the son of Mr. W and Mrs. E Williamson, and was married to May Alice Williamson. On January 31, 1916 he enlisted in Melbourne and embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A14 Euripides on April 4, 1916, with the 12th reinforcement of the 23rd Battalion, part of the 6th Australian Brigade of the 2nd Australian Division.
The Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde on the 4th of October 1917, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack of the Division was carried by the 6th and 7th Australian Brigades, with the 6th Brigade’s attack led by the 21st and 24th Battalions, and the 23rd Battalion in reserve, providing ammunition carrying- and digging parties. Before the attack, on October 1, 1917 the Battalion was at the front line near Zonnebeke Lake. On October 2, the Battalion was relieved and returned to Anzac House. On that day, the Battalion suffered 8 casualties.
Alfred, aged 30, was killed in action on October 2, 1917. Private Williamson was found after the war where he fell, near Brick Kiln & Yard (28.D.28.c.30.95); his remains were exhumed and reinterred at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery; Plot 5, Row A, Grave 3.
The Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde on the 4th of October 1917, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack of the Division was carried by the 6th and 7th Australian Brigades, with the 6th Brigade’s attack led by the 21st and 24th Battalions, and the 23rd Battalion in reserve, providing ammunition carrying- and digging parties. Before the attack, on October 1, 1917 the Battalion was at the front line near Zonnebeke Lake. On October 2, the Battalion was relieved and returned to Anzac House. On that day, the Battalion suffered 8 casualties.
Alfred, aged 30, was killed in action on October 2, 1917. Private Williamson was found after the war where he fell, near Brick Kiln & Yard (28.D.28.c.30.95); his remains were exhumed and reinterred at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery; Plot 5, Row A, Grave 3.
Sources 4
|
23rd Battalion Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/40/25). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
6th Brigade Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/6/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/460278 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7630821 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a5e24e43-9ff9-483a-8014-b34e3f9f611d |
|
The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=326227 |