Alfred LANDLESS

LANDLESS, Alfred

Service Number: 4228
Enlisted: 16 August 1915
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 13th Infantry Battalion
Born: Bury, Lancashire, England, 6 May 1881
Home Town: Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Seaman
Died: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 4 October 1946, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, New South Wales
Plot W-21-GE-OR-3866
Memorials: Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

16 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4228, 13th Infantry Battalion
20 Dec 1915: Involvement Private, 4228, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
20 Dec 1915: Embarked Private, 4228, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney
19 Mar 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion
19 Apr 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 13th Infantry Battalion
14 Aug 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 4228, 13th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Gunshot wound shoulder

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Alfred Landless was born in England in 1881 and served with the Royal Navy from 1899 until 1911. It is not known when he came to Australia, but he gave his occupation as seaman when he enlisted in Sydney during 1915.

He was promoted in Egypt to Corporal 19 March 1916, promoted to Sergeant a month later, in the 13th Battalion.

He was wounded in action at Pozieres on 14 August 1916, a gunshot wound to the shoulder, and was evacuated to England. He rejoined the 13th Battalion in France just before Christmas 1916.

He was recommended for an award,

“In the attack on Stormy Trench N.E. of Gueudecourt on night of 4/5th February 1917, Sergeant Landless rendered invaluable work. His untiring effort to keep his men together, despite the fact that his platoon had already done two days in front line before the advance is well worthy of recognition. His work was excellent and though exhausted towards the last he stuck to his post right to the end. His personal example and devotion to duty was indeed a great incentive to his men.” He received no award.

He was captured by the Germans about six weeks later, during the disastrous first Bullecourt battle. He was repatriated to England in late 1918 and returned to Australia in March 1919.

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