GILLETT, Albert Ernest
| Service Number: | 937 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1915, Perth, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 23 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Osborne Park, Stirling, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Newcastle Street Public School, West Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Occupation: | Gardiner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 19 July 1916, aged 18 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 937, Depot Battalion (AIF), Perth, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Suez, Egypt | |
| 19 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Admitted -- 8th Australian Field Ambulance -- General Debility -- Ferry Post, Egypt | |
| 19 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Transferred -- Admitted -- Acting Casualty Clearing Station -- Intercostal Myalgia -- Ferry Post, Egypt | |
| 26 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Discharged to Duty -- Rejoined Battalion | |
| 17 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Transylvania" | |
| 23 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 937, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed In Action |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Albert Ernest Gillet
Albert Ernest Gillett was born at West Perth, Western Australia in July 1897 to parents Townley and Pauline Ernestine Gillett (nee Jencke), who were married in Camberwell, Victoria in November 1889. They had ten siblings, with Albert being the fifth child. Albert had four brothers and five sisters.
It is believed Albert's parents moved to Western Australia, residing in West Perth in 1893, after the death of their second son Gustave, who died in the year of his birth. It was in about 1910 that the family moved to Osborne Park, where they undertook a market garden growing vegetables. Albert served in the Cadets 86th Infantry, which was a compulsory military training scheme at the time.
It was on the 13th July 1916 that Albert enlisted in the A.I.F. at Blackboy Hill, Perth, Western Australia, conducting his basic training and being allocated to the 32nd Battalion. Two companies C and D of the 32nd Battalion, were formed at Blackboy Hill. It was in September 1915 that these two companies sailed from Fremantle for Adelaide, South Australia to join A and B companies to form the remainder of the battalion, which had been raised at Adelaide, forming part of the 8th Brigade.
Albert's three brothers also enlisted in the A.I.F. Townley Gillett, 25 years, born in Footscray, Victoria, enlisted in September 1916, allocated to the 16th Infantry Battalion. He embarked from Fremantle in June 1917 for France. He was later transferred to the 44th Infantry Battalion in December 1917. He returned to Australia in 1919.
Charles Henry Gillett, 21 years, born in North Perth, enlisted in August 1915 and was allocated to the 12th Infantry Battalion before embarking overseas from Fremantle in December 1915 for France. He was later transferred to the 51st Infantry Battalion in October 1916 in France. He returned to Australia in 1919.
Frank Gillett, 20 years, born in West Perth, enlisted in the A.I.F. in January 1916. He had previous military experience with the 86th Infantry Militia. He was allocated to the 44th Infantry Battalion before embarking overseas from Fremantle in June 1916 for France. Whilst serving with the 44th Infantry Battalion, he attained the rank of Sergeant. In September 1918, Frank was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on the 25th August 1918 near Ceylon Woods when he went forward, capturing 37 prisoners and again on 29th September 1918 when he led a bombing parting, capturing a section of trench on the Hindenburg Line. Frank returned to Australia in 1919.
Albert embarked from Adelaide, South Australia in November 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong A2, attached to C Company. Arriving in Egypt in December 1915 the battalion conducted further training at Tel-el-Kebir, before embarking to France in June 1916. On arrival in France, Albert was sent to Morbecque near Hazebrouck in northern France.
It was in July 1916 that Albert, with his battalion, moved to their billets at Fleurbaix in preparation for an assault on the German trenches at Fromelles. The plan was to use Brigades from the Australian Fifth Division to conduct a diversionary assault on the German trenches at Fromelles.
The Australian 8th Brigade, which the 32nd Infantry Battalion was a part of, along with the 31st Infantry Battalion, was to assault the German trenches on the left flank, crossing only 100 metres of no man’s land to get to the German lines. The 32nd Battalion was on the extreme left flank, their job made more difficult, not only did they have to protect themselves, but advancing on the German lines, they had to block off the Germans on their left, to stop them from coming around behind them whilst advancing. The assault commenced at 6 pm on 19th July 1916.
Albert’s battalion formed the first and second waves of the attack. Even before the attack started the Australians not only suffered casualties from the German artillery but also from their own inexperienced Australian artillery which lacked the skills to provide artillery cover for the assault.
With the 32nd and 31st Infantry Battalions commencing their assault and suffering heavy casualties, against all odds, the men were able to capture a small section of the German trenches. With no follow-up support in getting to their objective and continued German counterattacks attacks the Australians were forced to withdraw from the German trenches in the early morning hours of the 20th July.
There were no witness accounts to Albert’s fate on the night of the assault, even if he made it across no man’s land to the German trenches. He has no known grave and is commemorated on VC Corner Australian Military Cemetery, Fromelles, France. He was only 18 years of age, four days short of his 19th birthday.
In August 1916, his family inserted a notice in the Western Mail which reads,
On 19 July 1916, Private Albert E Gillett, dearly loved younger son of Townley and Pauline Gillett, Newcastle Street, West Perth, six days before his 19th birthday.
He nobly rose at his country’s call,
He gave his, beat his life, his all.
Inserted by his sorrowing father, mother, brothers, and sisters.
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