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"...937 Private Albert Ernest Gillett, 32nd Battalion. The youngest of four brothers and a gardener from Perth, Western Australia prior to enlistment, he embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT Geelong on 18 November 1915 for Suez. His battalion relocated th the Western Front, France during June 1916. Pte Gillett was reported missing in action on 19 July 1916 during the Battle of Fromelles. Subsequently he was determined to have been killed in action on that date. He was aged 18 years, 4 days short of his 19th birthday. Pte Gillett has no known grave and is commemorated on the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France. His next oldest brother, 445 Sergeant Frank Gillett MM, 44th Battalion, enlisted in January 1916, served in France and returned to Australia for discharge in July 1919. The next oldest brother 3815 Pte Charles Henry Gillett enlisted in August 1915, served in Egypt and France and returned to Australia for discharge in July 1919. The oldest brother, 7478 Pte Townley Gillett, enlisted in September 1916, served in France and returned to Australia for discharge in May 1919." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

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 was the fifth child. Albert had four brothers and five sisters.
 
It is believed Alberts 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 86thInfantry which was compulsory military training scheme.
 
It was on the 13th July 1916 that Albert enlisted into the A.I.F. at Blackboy Hill Perth, Western Australia conducting his basic training attached to 32nd Battalion. Two companies C and D of 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.
 
Alberts three brothers also enlisted into the A.I.F. Townley Gillett 25 years, born in Footscray, Victoria enlisted in September 1916 attached to 16th Battalion. He embarked from Fremantle in June 1917 for France. He was later transferred to the 44th Battalion in December 1917. He returned to Australia in 1919.
 
Charles Henry Gillett 21 years, born North Perth enlisted in August 1915 and was attached to 12th Battalion before embarking overseas from Fremantle in December 1915 for France. He was later transferred to 51stBattalion in October 1916 in France. He returned to Australia in 1919.
 
Frank Gillett 20 years, born West Perth enlisted into the A.I.F. in January 1916. He had previous military experience with the 86th Infantry. He was attached to 44th Battalion before embarking overseas from Fremantle in June 1916 for France. Whilst attached to the 44th Battalion he attained the rank of Sergeant. In September 1918 Frank was awarded the Military Medal for action 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 Morbecque near Hazebrouck in northern France.

It was in July 1916 that Albert with the 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 of the German trenches at Fromelles.

The Australian 8th Brigade which 32nd Battalion was a part of along with 31st Battalion were to assault the German trenches on the left flank crossing only 100 metres of no man’s land to get the trenches. The 32ndBattalion 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 was due to commence at 6pm on 19th July 1916.

Albert’s battalion formed the first and second waves of the attack. Even before the attack commenced the Australians not only suffered casualties from the German artillery but also from their own inexperienced Australian artillery who lacked the skills to provide artillery cover for the assault.

With the 32nd and 31st 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 counter attacks the Australians were forced to withdraw from the German trenches.

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 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.