Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Constable Albert Edwin ‘Bert’ Barnden 4748†
San Remo Police Station, Victoria
Citing having been born on 8 May 1876 at Gilbert or Gilberton [formerly Gilbert Town], an inner northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, on the northern bank of the River Torrens, labourer Albert Edwin Barnden was appointed to the Victoria Police Force on 10 March 1899.
Marrying Florence Johnston, on 3 April 1900, three days before transferring from Russell Street to Prahran police station; there he remained for three years following.
Transferring first to Bendigo before Golden Square, Bert Barnden then became attached to the Superintendent’s Office at Bendigo in April 1912. Whilst in Bendigo he took a live interest in musical affairs, being a member of the Citizens' Band.
Efficient, reliable and intelligent, Bert Barnden, on 18 June 1915 transferred to take charge of the San Remo police station enlisting, on 6 June 1916, in ‘C’ Company, 23rd Battalion, citing his place of birth as Mallala a locality in the Australian state of South Australia about 58 kilometres north of the state capital of Adelaide. The name is thought to be derived from the Kaurna word madlala or madlola, meaning "place of the ground frog".
Embarking aboard the Nestor on 2 October 1916, Corporal Albert Edwin Barnden 5787, without previous military experience, formed part of the 16th reinforcement of the 23rd Battalion, which, following its December 1915 withdrawal from Gallipoli, spent the early months of 1916 in Egypt rebuilding its strength as well as conducting training.
Arriving in France in March 1916, the battalion moved to the Western Front, occupying the forward positions around Armentières in northern France on 10 April 1916; fighting in the Battles of Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the battalion suffered almost 90 per cent casualties.
Coming ashore in France on 27 April 1917, Corporal Albert Barnden, together with his comrades-in-arms, reinforced the 23rd Battalion, to be committed to the fighting at the Second Battle of Bullecourt.
Forming part of the British 5th Army four experienced Australian divisions of I ANZAC Corps under the relatively young, energetic General Sir Hubert Gough, on 10 April 1917, in support of an important offensive by the adjoining British 3rd Army to the north, together with the French Army further to the south. However, his aggressive spirit, coupled with poor planning, resulted in heavy losses.
Planning to deploy the 4th Australian Division, as well as the 62nd British Division to the Hindenburg Line near the village of Bullecourt, rather than wait for sufficient artillery resources, Gough decided to employ a dozen tanks to lead the troops through the enemy’s barbed-wire.
Exposed to murderous machine-gun, together with artillery fire, the Australians were forced back to their own lines whilst tanks stood burning on the battlefield. Three thousand Australians were either killed or wounded; many survivors remaining bitter about such a futile waste.
'Bullecourt, more than any other battle, shook the confidence of Australian soldiers in the capacity of the British command; the errors, especially on April 10th and 11th, were obvious to almost everyone'. – Charles Bean, Official Historian.
Despite the failure of the first attack General Gough again attempted to break the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt. On 3 May 1917 the 2nd Australian Division attacked with the British alongside. Although the brigade on the right faltered under deadly machine-gun fire, the 6th Brigade entered and courageously held, enemy trenches despite heavy shellfire and counter attacks.
Forty years of age, 180 cm, Constable Albert Edwin ‘Bert’ Barnden 4748 serving as Corporal in the 23rd Battalion AIF, tragically, together with 100 of his 23rd Battalion comrades, was killed in action on 3 May 1917 at Bullecourt, France, his final resting place being unknown, his memory is commemorated at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Furious fighting in these blood-soaked fields, only advanced the line a kilometre or so, came at the heavy cost of 7,000 Australian casualties.
'The Second Bullecourt [battle] was, in some ways, the stoutest achievement of the Australian soldier in France'. – Charles Bean, official historian.
Albert Edward Barnden
In loving memory of Corporal A. E. Barnden, 6th Brigade, A.I.F., killed in action at Bullecourt, 3rd May, 1917. Sadly missed by all. -Inserted by his loving father and mother, brothers and sisters, Magnolia Avenue, Mildura.
Officially reported killed in action at St Quentin, France, on 29 September 1918, 28 years of age Private Charles James Barnden 1788, brother of Corporal Bert Barnden, enlisted in the 2/38 Battalion on 22 February 1916, whilst a third brother, Private John Leonard Barnden 7199, enlisted, on 12 February 1916, serving with 6th Battation, 24th Reinforcements, returned to Australia on 23 March 1919 – all dearly loved sons of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Barnden, of Mildura, formerly of Brunswick.