Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Albert Henri Menere

In 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated. His death was a catalyst to the beginning of the Great War, also known as the war to end all wars and now known as World War 1. In 1914 before Britain officially declared war on Germany, Australia pledged its loyalty and services to the small but powerful nation. This act of loyalty was met with enthusiasm amongst the Australian population and throughout the entirety of the war, 416,809 men and boys enlisted. The number of people enlisting at the start of the war was so great that recruitment officers were forced to turn people away. 33% of all volunteers were rejected during the first year of the war. However, 64.98% of those who did see service, didn’t survive. This mass percentage of loss affected our community here in Corowa. To help the war effort, Schools such as Corowa Public School made socks for soldiers. When soldiers returned home parties and balls were held to celebrate the return of community members. There were also events held to aid the “Returning Soldiers Fund”. After the War, a Cenotaph was erected in Corowa which has all the names of the soldiers who fought for our nation. One of these men was Private Albert Henri Menere.

Albert Henri Menere was born on Hopedale Farm, Coreen on the 11th March 1880. Before he enlisted, Albert was an engineer and a blacksmith. He was 5 foot 4, 140lbs (63kg), had brown hair, blue-grey eyes and was a Roman Catholic. He had 4 identifying features including scars on the back of his left hand, front left thigh,left forearm and right shin. He was married to Blanche Adeline Edith and had 5 children. On the 27th January 1917, Albert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Sydney, aged 36 years and 10 months old. He was given the rank of Private and his service number was 7283.The reasoning behind his enlistment is not clear. His parents were from Europe so he may have wanted to enlist as a way of protecting his family’s “homeland”. Albert may also have been pressured by the people around him. Being a conscientious objector or not enlisting was considered cowardice. Men who did not enlist were often ridiculed and considered weak for not fighting for their country. He may have also gone to fight for his family thinking it would keep his children safe as false news and reports stated that the Germans were going to eventually invade Australia. Propaganda posters also had a huge impact on Australian men. Posters were used to encourage enlistment. They created an emotional response from the targeted audience. These factors may all have played a part in Albert enlisting.

On the 10th February 1917 Albert boarded the HMAT Osterley as part of the 24th Battalion. The RMS Osterley was a ship used to transport troops to and from England. The trip took 2 months and while on board Albert received a letter of appreciation for working in the “Sanitary Squad”. The letter stated that “Ships Order No. 17. By Lieutenant Colonel Y.H. Heritage Commanding Troops RMS Osterley. ‘The Commander H.M.S. “Osterley” wishes to express his appreciation of the work of the Sanitary Squad, by this publication in Ship’s Orders. The Commanding Officer desires to associate himself with this appreciation. The work is excellent’. -Menere A.H. is one of the squad. Arthur W. Lane Sanitary Sargeant- Signed S.M. De Ravin. The sanitation on board the troop ships was not of the highest quality and occasionally mutinies arose. To avoid this from happening sanitation squads were implemented to ensure the sanitation levels were satisfactory.

After disembarking the HMAT Osterley, Albert was transferred to the 1st Training Battalion and marched into Durrington. He was then transferred to the 62nd Battalion at Windmill Hill Perham Downs. Perham Downs was a Training station initially used by some of the Kitchener Battalions. In 1916 Australia’s number 1 Command Depot was Established at Perham Downs. The Training Station was used to toughen up convalescent men before being sent to the front. Albert trained in stretcher bearing and would have undertaken a 10 week course in medicine. Stretcher bearers were held to a high regard amongst the medical teams as they went over the top of trenches to risk their lives for other soldiers. They often received further training once arriving on the front by the medical teams.
As the War continued, stretcher bearers were trained in administering morphine and psychological help to wounded soldiers. According to sources, Albert was held in high esteem by his troops and was admired for his cheerful disposition even in the toughest of circumstances.

Albert’s role as a stretcher bearer was to transport any injured soldier to the medical station. When a stretcher bearer reached the casualty their job was to bandage any wounds and carry the casualty to the Regimental Aid Post for treatment by the battalion’s medical officer. Stretcher bearers worked in teams of four to six. In good conditions it may have only taken two men per stretcher. However, conditions were often unfavourable and it often took more men. Stretcher bearers were not armed and were only protected by their ‘SB’ armbands. Once over the top of the trenches, the men would look for wounded soldiers and listen for shouts and screams of wounded. The Stretcher bearers were very motivated and worked together to save their brothers in arms.

After his training was completed, Albert proceeded overseas to France to reinforce the 3rd Division. His battalion marched to Rouelles and then on the 2nd of September they marched out to the front. Albert was then taken on strength and transferred to the 35th Battalion on the 8th of September. While with the 35th Battalion, Albert saw his first and last battle and was reported dead by the 9th Infantry Brigade on the 3rd of October 1917. He fought in Belgium in the Battle of Passchendaele.

The Battle of Ypres is made up of three battles: the First and Second Ypres and the Battle of Passchendaele. Albert Henri Menere was in the Battle of Passchendaele and more specifically the Battles of Polygon Wood and possibly the battle of Menin Road. These two battles were successful for the allied troops as all the objectives were achieved. The Battle of Menin Road began on the 20th September 1917. Two Australian Divisions, along with four British Divisions on their right and five on their left moved forward along the 8 mile front. This was the first time in the War that two Australian Divisions had attacked side by side. This lifted moral as the men knew who were fighting on their flank. Eventually the British and ANZAC forces reached Polygon Wood which no longer looked like a wood.
The Battle of Polygon Wood began on the 26th of September immediately following the Battle of Menin Road which ended on the same day. The plan was that the AIF 5th Division attacked on the 2km front on the main ridge and the 4th Division attacked Tokio Spur. However, due to the condition of the land, tracks had to be made on top of the mud to move forward. As the attacks continued stretcher bearers had to go out on the front line and retrieve the casualties. This job became increasingly difficult as mud was sometimes knee deep. In addition to this the stretcher bearers were also under heavy fire and had to navigate between trenches, shell holes and any other obstacles such as bodies on the ground. Near the end of the Battle, for the first time in the war, four ANZAC Divisions from the two ANZAC Corps were side by side on the front line with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd AIF Divisions and the New Zealand Division.

Private Albert Henri Menere was killed in action on the 2nd October 1917 just south of Zonnebeke, Belgium. At 8:15pm an enemy shell burst into his trench, instantly killing him. His friend Private J Clarke erected a small cross to mark the spot where Albert’s life was taken. His name can be found on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. According to Albert’s records he was buried in Belgium. However, there is a strong possibility that there wasn’t a body to be buried as his name is on the Menin Gate Memorial, which exists to commemorate soldiers who were unable to be buried. In Albert’s records there are letters written by his family to the Army War Records Department to gather information on their deceased family member. Unfortunately this was a reality for many families; losing loved ones and not knowing where or how they died.

For his services, Private Menere received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Victory Medal was never given alone and always awarded in conjunction with the 1914/15 Star and in some cases with the British War Medal. In his official records, it states that Albert received the 1914/15 Star even though he did not enlist until 1917. This means that his records have a discrepancy in them. He did not receive the Victory Medal with the 1914/15 star but instead with the British War Medal.

Stretcher Bearers, such as Private Albert Henri Menere, were often forgotten as heroes. It is important that we commemorate these men and show our respects to those who have defended our nation and saved thousands of loved ones. Without the actions of Stretcher Bearers many more soldiers would have been lost.

Through the celebrations of ANZAC Day and Remembrance day, Corowa is still, and always will be, impacted by the soldiers gone before use. Even the impact of Albert’s family on Corowa can be seen today. The Motel Menere’s on Federation Avenue was named after his family who owned the original Pastoral Hotel before it was renamed.

Commemorating, paying our respects and discovering the stories of our current and past service men and women is not only an essential part of our small community, but also part of our National Story.

We will remember them.
Lest we Forget.