VILLEPASTOUR, Alphonse Arnold
| Service Number: | 1412 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 November 1914, Enlisted at Oaklands, SA |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | North Adelaide, South Australia, 15 January 1897 |
| Home Town: | North Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | North Adelaide Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Carpenter & Joiner |
| Died: | Victoria, 7 November 1957, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Roman Catholic, Compartment 9, Section 12. Grave 32 |
| Memorials: | Lower North Adelaide War Memorial WW1, North Adelaide Public School Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1412, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlisted at Oaklands, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1412, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1412, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Runic, Melbourne | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Divisional Signal Company | |
| 16 Apr 1917: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, Military Medal:- For his gallantry in repairing and maintaining telephone lines during the operations carried out by the 4th Australian infant Brigade on 11th April 1917 at Noreuil. This man on several occasions established communication between Brigade and Battalion Headquarters at a most critical time allowing the Brigadier to obtain information from his Battalion Commanders. he had to travel over country swept by Machine guns and artillery fire, showing undaunted courage and an utter contempt for the enemy fire. London Gazette on 9 July 1917, page 6839, position 83. Bar to Military Medal:- London Gazette on 29 August 1918, page 10110, position 3 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 February 1919, page 267, position 12 | |
| 25 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1412, 4th Divisional Signal Company, Discharged at the 4th Military District |
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Completed by St Dominic's Priory School
Alphonse Arnold Villepastour was born on January 15, 1897 in North Adelaide, where he was also raised. Villepastour grew up with his parents, Joseph Louis Villepastour and Caroline Gordon Curtis and his siblings Felix Antoine and Clarisse Adele. Villepastour attended North Adelaide Public School. Before the war he worked as a joiner and a carpenter, and later joined the Cadets for two years.
On the November 28, 1914, Alphonse Villepastour enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force aged 18. His attestation papers give his physical description - fair complexion and hair, blue eyes, 5’6 feet tall with a minor scar running along his chin. His confirmed enlistment was at Oaklands, South Australia, with his father, Joseph Louis Villepastour, as his next of kin. His service began with the 16th Battalion, previous to transferring to the 4th Divisional Signal Company
Villepastour, in his role as a signaller, was a small part of one of the most vital and dangerous positions on the Western Front. The maintenance of communication through lines was essential for the successful outcome of military operations. Some of the jobs of signallers like Villepastour were map reading, Morse code signalling, dispatch riding and repairing telephone lines. These tasks arguably required both attention to detail and bravery, as well as quick and effective decision making in the most life-threatening environments. His communication work, as stated, was crucial to the success or failure of attacks/missions. Despite having such an important and influential role to the battle, he had a few minor disciplinary incidents recorded in his file, such as drunkenness. However, Villepastour is said to have demonstrated confidence in situations that challenged those even more experienced than himself.
Villepastour’s achievements were officially acknowledged through significant honours. He was awarded the Military Medal for his efforts at Noreuil during major operations executed by the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade on the 6th of May in 1917. The London Gazette reported that he had continuously fixed the telephone lines by saying, “over country swept by machine guns and artillery fire”, This established important communication between the Brigade and the Battalion Headquarters. This acknowledgement accentuates the instant effect of his actions (sustaining communication throughout crucial times) the extensive pattern of Australian soldiers displaying resourcefulness and courage under pressure.
Alphonse Villepastour’s continuous service ensued additional promotions such as Lance Corporal on the 16th of December in 1917 and Second Corporal on the 3rd of October in 1918. He was awarded a Bar to his Military Medal, demonstrating a further act of bravery on the 12th of May in 1918. This remarkable distinction situates him alongside the highly recognised and honoured Australia signallers of the war. Villepastour’s career highlights not specifically individual courage but as well as Australia’s continuity in military tradition of honouring service, sacrifices and practical skills.
In 1919, Villepastour returned to his home in Australia back to his civilian life. He was discharged 25 June 1919. Alphonse Villepastour passed away November 7, 1957, His cause of death unknown.