AUSTRALIA
WWI
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This photo was taken by Frank Hurley on the morning after the first battle of Passchendaele during the First World War, showing Australian infantry survivors laying out and placing blankets over dead soldiers around a blockhouse near the site of Zonnebeke Railway Station in Belgium on 12 October 1917 (the same day that Gill was wounded). In the background the sun's rays shine from behind a threatening cloud.
ALFRED R. GILL
Pte. Alfred R. Gill was born on January 14, 1898 and was from Blinman, South Australia.
Entered service on June 12, 1916.
Gill departed overseas on February 10, 1917. He was assigned to 9th Reinforcements, 48th Infantry Battalion on October 6, 1917.
Gill was wounded in action by a gunshot wound to the right side of the chest on October 12, 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele. On the 25th he was sent back to England for treatment.
Arrived back in Australia early in 1918 and was discharged on April 29, 1918.
Awarded 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Entered service on June 12, 1916.
Gill departed overseas on February 10, 1917. He was assigned to 9th Reinforcements, 48th Infantry Battalion on October 6, 1917.
Gill was wounded in action by a gunshot wound to the right side of the chest on October 12, 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele. On the 25th he was sent back to England for treatment.
Arrived back in Australia early in 1918 and was discharged on April 29, 1918.
Awarded 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
LESLIE M. SMITH
Pte. Leslie Melrose Smith was born in 1890.
He enlisted on July 5, 1915 in the Australian Imperial Force. Him and two of his brothers would serve.
On May 22, 1916, he joined the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital in Ismailia, Egypt.
He embarked for the UK on September 14, 1916 and arrived in England on the 29th.
He arrived in Rouelles, France on June 9, 1917 and joined the 14th Field Ambulance on the 15th. On September 23rd, he was wounded in action while stretcher-bearing in the Battle of Menin Road during the Third Battle of Ypres. He subsequently died of wounds the same day.
A year after he was KIA, his "identity disc" was returned to his family as seen in the document below, which is more than likely the one you see pictures.
He enlisted on July 5, 1915 in the Australian Imperial Force. Him and two of his brothers would serve.
On May 22, 1916, he joined the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital in Ismailia, Egypt.
He embarked for the UK on September 14, 1916 and arrived in England on the 29th.
He arrived in Rouelles, France on June 9, 1917 and joined the 14th Field Ambulance on the 15th. On September 23rd, he was wounded in action while stretcher-bearing in the Battle of Menin Road during the Third Battle of Ypres. He subsequently died of wounds the same day.
A year after he was KIA, his "identity disc" was returned to his family as seen in the document below, which is more than likely the one you see pictures.
14th Field Ambulance
Battle of Menin Road. "Australian wounded on the Menin Road, near Birr Cross Road on September 20th, 1917". (Caption source: National Library of Australia, n.d. (1 June 2014).
