Geboortejaar: 1889

Geboorteplaats: Geraldton, Western Australia, Australië

Beroep: Bakker

Land: Australië

Strijdmacht: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Private

Service nummer: 1751

Dienstneming datum: 26/02/1916

Dienstneming plaats: Melbourne, Victoria, Australië

Eenheden:  —  Australian Infantry, 59th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Datum van overlijden: 26/29/1917

Plaats van overlijden: Hooge, Zillebeke, België

Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Leeftijd: 28

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

Private Albert Woolhouse was part of the 59th Battalion, Australian Infantry, 15th Australian Brigade, 5th Australian Division. This battalion took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26 September 1917. The 59th Battalion attacked on the right side of the jump off line on the south edge of Polygon Wood. The attack went well and the first objective was taken by the 59th Battalion, other battalions pushed forward to the second objective. The final positions of the 59th Battalion attack were Jetty Wood on the left, through pillboxes (J.10.c.9.8.) to the South-East Corner of Polygon Wood. This line was consolidated and held despite German counterattacks.
The Red Cross Wounded and Missing files state that Private Albert Woolhouse was struck by a shell near pillboxes behind the line. Heavily wounded, he was taken by stretcher bearers to the first dressing station and then to the Regimental Aid Post. One source stated that the three men (Private Woolhouse and the stretcher bearers) were never seen again and thought something happened to them on the way to an Aid Post operated by the 14th or 15th Australian Field Ambulance. On the 5th of October he was listed as ‘wounded and missing’ in the attack on the 26th of September, which seems to correspond to the above mentioned sources. However, he was later listed as ‘killed in action’ and confirmed to be buried by the 5th Division Burial Officer. The location of his grave was reported to be in the rear of Hooge Crater (I.18.a.7.9.). The 14th Australian Field Ambulance was operating near Hooge Crater. It's most likely that Private Albert Woolhouse reached this position, but succumbed to his wounds. His grave was lost during the war, possibly destroyed by shell fire.

14th Australian Field Ambulance, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 26/57/20). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Gebruikte bronnen

59th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/76/20). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Gebruikte bronnen

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, WOOLHOUSE A). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx Gebruikte bronnen

McCarthy Chris, Passchendaele : The Day-by-Day account, (London, Uniform, 2018), p 94-95. Gebruikte bronnen

Red Cross Wounded and Missing File and Embarkation Roll https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search?query=Woolhouse+1751 Gebruikte bronnen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1602118

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=cdb22086-c1ed-4d20-b7eb-5e3c6c5bf3d4

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7402206

The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=332028