NORTHEY, Alfred Leslie
| Service Number: | 2197 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Millthorpe, New South Wales, Australia, 17 April 1895 |
| Home Town: | Orange, Orange Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Millthorpe Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Shrapnel wounds to the chest, Belgium, 22 September 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Orange "Fallen of Orange" Memorial Banners, Orange Cenotaph, Orange Holy Trinity Anglican Church Honour Board, Orange WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2197, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2197, 20th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2197, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 22 Sep 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2197, 20th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2197 awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-09-22 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Alfred Leslie NORTHEY (Service Number 2197) was born on 17th April 1895 at Milthorpe. His first work with the NSW Government Railways was as a gatekeeper in the Orange District from 25th April 1913. He resigned on 31st July. He moved to Sydney and found employment again as a junior porter from 19th January 1915. Although his work description was upgraded to [adult] porter on his 21st birthday, he had by that date been in the AIF for the best part of a year. He was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 23rd June 1915.
Northey enlisted at Liverpool on 13th July 1915. He described himself as ‘Junior Porter’, though he gave his age as 21 years and 2 months. He was in fact a year younger and may have increased his age to avoid the question of his parents’ consent. He did give his mother, living in Orange, as his next of kin, and claimed service in the Militia with the 42nd Infantry.
He was allotted to the 20th Australian Infantry Battalion.
Northey embarked HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ at Sydney on 30th September 1915 and reached Egypt at the end of the year. He was taken on the strength of the Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 10th January 1916. In March the Battalion was transported on HMT ‘Ingoma’ from Alexandria to Marseilles, reaching that port on 25th March. He had a period in the 5th Australian Field Ambulance with dental issues in May. He was appointed Lance Corporal in July.
He was wounded in action with shrapnel injuries penetrating his chest on 20th September in Belgium. He transferred to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station. He died there two days later. He was buried at Lijssenhoek, Sheet 27.Sq.L.22.d.6.3, by Rev H S S Clarke, Chaplain attached to the 10th CCS This location as now known as Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
In October the military received a letter from Miss L Williams of Floss Street, Hurlstone Park:
‘Can you give me any information regarding above soldier as I was told by his relatives that he was reported as having died of wounds, the 22nd September last, but so far his name has not appeared in any casualty list. As I was engaged to be married to him, I will be very grateful if you can give me any definite information as to whether the report of his death is correct.’
A pension of £1-15-0 per fortnight was granted to his mother in Orange.
- based on the Australian War Memorila Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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