WRIGGLESWORTH, Alfred
| Service Numbers: | 523, Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, Prahan |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment |
| Born: | Wellington, New Zealand, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Jolimont, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Wellington College & Church of England Grammar School, Melbourne |
| Occupation: | Broker |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 4 September 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Thiepval Anglo-French Cemetery Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 13A and 14C), Somme, France |
| Memorials: | Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 523, 5th Infantry Battalion, Prahan | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 523, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 523, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne | |
| 29 Dec 1915: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 523, 5th Infantry Battalion, Discharged in England - took up Lieutenancy in the 3rd Manchester Regiment British Forces | |
| 4 Sep 1916: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment |
Help us honour Alfred Wrigglesworth's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Alfred was born as Alfred Gunn WRIGGLESWORTH in Wellington, New Zealand in 1891
His parents were James Dacie WRIGGLESWORTH & Isabella Waters Sutherland GUNN who married in New Zealand in 1887
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
ALFRED DACEY GUNN WRIGGLESWORTH who was killed in action in France on 4th September 1916 . He was born in 1891
On leaving School he went into business in Melbourne, and was particularly interested in the import and export of timber.
He was among the first in Victoria to enlist for service overseas, spent some time in Egypt, took part in the Landing on Gallipoli, was wounded while in service in that region, and was transferred to a London hospital. After his recovery he sat for examination for Sandhurst, obtained a lieutenancy in the 3rd Manchester Regiment,
and after being stationed for some months on the East coast of England went over to France towards the end of July 1916 and was killed in action on 4th September.
The following letter from his Colonel tells the story of his work and
of his death: "It is very difficult indeed to get a true story of what occurred in the fight, as almost the whole of the company was scattered about in Delville Wood, and there is no officer left to tell me what occurred. Your son was, however, sent forward to support a bombing attack on a German trench just outside the wood,
but the instant his detachment emerged it was subjected to such a severe artillery and machine-gun fire that after suffering heavy losses it had to withdraw into the wood. Again coming under severe artillery fire, all had to be withdrawn further into the wood. By this time units had got mixed up, and your son, was detailed by his Captain to hold on to the edge of the wood and cover the withdrawal of the rest of his men, who were to go back and re-establish a second line. With 20 men from two different companies your son made a barricade, and held it most gallantly till he was killed by a shell-burst. The remnant of his party still held on till finally
ordered to withdraw. Your son's body was left behind, but finally, when further reinforcements came up, was recovered and buried. I wish to tell you how highly I thought of your son. From the day he joined us he made his mark as a sound and reliable officer. I noticed his keen and soldier-like qualities at once, and looked on him as a very valuable acquisition. He also soon became a great favourite. I
regret I am not able to give you more details, but in addition to the wood-fighting, where it is difficult to know what is going on, I lost every single officer engaged in that portion of the line."
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