S1421b
PITMAN, Allan Leslie
| Service Number: | 2460 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | gardener |
| Memorials: | Houghton War Memorial, Kersbrook Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 2460, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 2460, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 2460, 27th Infantry Battalion |
Allan Leslie Pitman
Name: Allan Leslie Pitman
Service Number: 2460
Parents: George Eight Pitman and Jane Pitman (nee Kennedy)
Place of Birth: Inglewood
Date of Birth: 20 December 1888
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 10 February 1916
Age at Enlistment: 27 years 1 month
Marital Status: Single
Next of Kin: Father, George Pitman
Occupation: Gardener
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Sergeant 27th Battalion
Memorials: Kersbrook Roll of Honor
Allan Leslie (Les) was the third son of George and Jane Pitman. He grew up at Inglewood, attended Houghton School and worked on the family property at Inglewood. Allan completed basic training as a private with B Coy 2nd Depot at Mitcham, then joined the 32nd Battalion 6th Reinforcement on 1 March. He embarked with the 50th Battalion from Sydney on board A73 Commonwealth on 21 September, disembarking at Plymouth, England, on 14 November and was marched into the 13th training Battalion at Codford. On 28 December his unit left Folkestone for France on board Princess Victoria. Allan was treated for mumps at the 18th General Hospital at Camiers in January 1917.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on 14 October. Allan, with the 27th Battalion in 1918 saw action in a range of areas throughout Belgium and France including Ploegsteet, Boulogne, Amiens, Albert and Villers-Bretonneux. He was granted leave while in France from 5 December to 19 December.
On 11 January 1919, Allan was attached to the 7th Brigade, rejoining his battalion on 22 March. He was appointed temporary Sergeant on 16 May and attached to Sutton Veny Camp in England. Allan returned to Australia on Nestor on 1 November and was discharged on 27 January 1920.
Allan was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
“After the war, he and one of his brothers took up land at Tintinara in the Southeast, but due to a succession of bad years, the venture was ended. He returned and bought an orchard at Kersbrook, which he developed very profitably, at the same time serving on committees caring for the welfare of the fruit growing districts. He was a member of the Cudlee Creek and Kersbrook Cold Store Committees and the Chain of Ponds Methodist Church. He retired to live in Tea Tree Gully.
Allan died on 25 January,1977 and was buried at Kersbrook.”
(The Pitman Family History: courtesy of Judy Pitman).
Source: www.naa;B2455;Pitman.A.L.
Barcode 8015962.
www.vwma; Pitman.A.L.
Submitted 25 September 2023 by christopher collins
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Allan Pitman was born in Inglewood, South Australia.Allan Pitman’s father was Mr. George Eight Pitman. Allan was a gardener and worked on a farm growing crops and pruning the land. Allan Pitman wasn’t married, he was 27 when he enlisted in the war on the 10th of February 1916 to the 50th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement.
He departed from Australia on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 21 September 1916. During the war, Allan Pitman got sick and needed to go to the hospital. He was diagnosed with mumps. Allan was temporarily promoted to Corporal and Sergeant during his service.
Allan Pitman returned to Australia on the 1st of November 1919.
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