Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Pte Noakes enlisted on 29 July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius on 10 November 1915. He [sustained GSW to neck and chest at Fromelles on 19 July 1916 but later] died of wounds on 28 July 1916 at the Somme, [correction Boulogne] France.

His brother, 1713A Pte Albert Thomas Noakes, 24th Battalion, also served with the AIF. Albert was killed in action on 26 [correction 28] July 1916 at Pozieres, France.

Another brother, 837 Pte Frederick Charles Noakes, also enlisted in the AIF on 21 August 1914 and embarked with the 6th Battalion. He was later commissioned as a lieutenant and served in the Royal Engineers in Egypt.

Source: AWM

WW1 Brothers who died the same day by Frank Mahieu

Remembering ALBERT & NELSON NOAKES, AIF, who died 28 July 1916.

Remember the brothers ALBERT THOMAS NOAKES and NELSON WILLIAM NOAKES who both died on 28 July 1916. Nelson died of wounds received at the Battle of Fromelles, his brother Albert was killed at Pozières at the Somme. Albert Noakes served with B-Company, 24th Battalion and Nelson William Noakes served with C-Company of 29th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, respectively. They were the sons of Thomas and Mary Ann Noakes of Byron Lodge, Addlestone, Surrey, England. Both were born at Bagshotleah, Albert abt. (end of) 1893 (or 1890), Nelson abt. (end of) 1895. At some point the brothers emigrated to Australia whilst their parents remained in the UK.

NELSON, a farmhand before, enlisted, aged 19 and 8 months, on 29 July 1915 a Melbourne. He had been rejected for service before because of the condition of his teeth. Apparently enlistment later on worked out ok. He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark hair, was 5ft 7 ¼ ins. tall ( 1.70m), weighing 10 stones (63,5kg). His final unit was, C-Company, 29th Battalion, in the 8th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division. He embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius on 10 November 1915 to Egypt. On June 16th 1916 he embarked at Alexandria to arrive at Marseille in France on the 23rd. The 29th Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19-20 July 1916. Although it still spent periods in the front line, the 29th played no major offensive role for the rest of the year.

Nelson got wounded in action at Fromelles that 19-20th. From the 2nd. Casualty Clearing Station he was transferred on the 20th by nr.7 train to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. The service record casualty form mentions two wounds, each in a different line: gunshot wound in the neck and gunshot wound in the chest. This proved to be fatal for Nelson Noakes who died of wounds 8 days later at the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne on 28 July 1916. He was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery by Revd. A. W. Morrow.

ALBERT NOAKES enlisted in Melbourne with the 24th Battalion of 2nd Reinforcements on 30 April 1915, aged 21 (or 24) years and 5 months. He (had) belonged to the Brookland cadets at the time. He was 5ft. 9 ½ ins. tall (1m76,5), weighing 12 stone 8 lbs (almost 80 kg.) and had fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 16 July 1915 for Egypt. He was taken on strength with the 24th Battalion at Gallipoli. He was promoted to sergeant on 11 October 1915. He reverted to the rank of private on his own request on 10 January 1916 at Mudros. He proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) embarking at Alexandria on 20 March 1916 arriving in Marseille, France the 23rd. His service would last just four more months. He was killed in action on 28 July 1916 at Pozieres, France, while serving with the Anzac Section, 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters, BEF. Albert is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2.

At Pozières Australians of the 22nd and 24th Bn. were in K Sap and K Trench (also known as Western Trench) on 27th July, 1916. This trench ran from a few metres at the Albert side of Gibraltar north towards the cemetery.

The account of the war diary of the 24th. Battalion of the action in which Albert also was killed:

“Those of the 24th in “K” trench were murderously hit. Except at its northern end, near the cemetery, this trench had no deep dugouts and the troops were sheltered in small recesses – some of them dug by the Germans – in the trench side. They had no duty but to remain there hour after hour. The position being considered unnecessarily crowded 100 men were eventually withdraw, the remainder could do nothing except sit in the trench waiting to be killed or buried by the collapsing banks and then be dug out and buried again. Some tried to occupy their minds by playing cards……. So great was the carnage in the 24th that for months afterwards even when “K” sap had been almost obliterated, its course could easily be traced by half buried bodies with the red and white colours of that battalion still showing on their arms”.

Another brother, Pte Frederick Charles Noakes, also enlisted in the AIF on 21 August 1914 and embarked with the 6th Battalion. He was later commissioned as a lieutenant and served in the Royal Engineers in Egypt.

LEST WE FORGET.