Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bert was born at Balhannah on 11 August 1891. He was the son of George and Margaret Sandercock. At the time of his enlistment, he was employed as a shop assistant.

At the outbreak of the War Bert was serving with a Citizen Forces unit, the 74th Boothby Battalion which would become the progenitor of the 27th Battalion. The 23 year old first attempted to enlist on the same day as his brother Tom but was rejected on account of the poor state of his teeth. His enlistment, at Keswick, was deferred until 5 March.

Allocated to 6 Reinforcements 10 Battalion he embarked from Adelaide, aboard HMAT A30 Borda, on 23 June 1915. Bert landed in Egypt and on 1 August embarked for the Dardanelles from Alexandria. At Gallipoli he joined the 10 Battalion on 4 August. This was only 2 days before the Battle of Sari Bair which raged from 6 – 21 August. On 30 November Bert was evacuated and admitted sick to hospital on Mudros. On 9 December he disembarked on HMAT A48 Seang Bee at Alexandria and rejoined his unit in Egypt where, on 26 February 1916, he was transferred to D Company 50 Battalion. 50 Battalion embarked from Alexandria aboard SS Arcadian on 5 June 1916.

After arriving in France on 11 June 1916, the 50th fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm between 13 and 15 August and suffered heavily. It took part in another assault launched there on 3 September. The battalion saw out the rest of the year alternating between front-line duty, and training and labouring behind the line. At this time Bert was promoted to Lance Corporal. This routine continued through the bleak winter of 1916-17 during which time he was promoted to Temporary Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

While at the Dock Rest Camp in January, Bert gave this account of the death of a comrade.

Eyewitness to Herbert Keily, Jan 26, 1917

"I knew Keily well and was with him in Gallipoli. He was about 22, medium height, dark and clean shaven. Christian name Herbert, came from Plympton. One of his pals Pte. Albert Winter D Co. 13th Pltn, still with this unit, told me that Keily was killed by a shell on the 16th Aug. going over the top at Pozieres. His body would be blown to pieces by the explosion. The ground was held but a number of bodies had to be left unburied."

Informant: L/Cpl R. Sandercock 2217

D Co. 50th AIF

Dock Rest Camp

H.M.D.H.

Early in 1917, the battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and attacked at Noreuil on 2 April. Later that year, the focus of AIF operations moved to the Ypres sector in Belgium. There the battalion was involved in the battle of Messines between 7 and 12 June and the battle of Polygon Wood on 26 September. Another winter of trench routine followed. On 1 April 1918 Bert was admitted to 39th General Hospital with venereal disease and would not rejoin his unit until 23 May. During his hospitalisation the 50th Battalion assisted in the repulse of the largest German attack mounted against Australian troops during the war, the now- legendary attack to dislodge the enemy from Villers-Bretonneux on Anzac Day 1918.

Bert rejoined his unit on 23 May 1918 and four months later was detached to the 2nd US Corps. While on detachment Bert reported sick and from 52 Casualty Clearing Station was admitted to 2 General Hospital at Havre with ICT (inflamed connective tissue) of his knee. A month before the armistice Bert rejoined 50 Battalion. Bert embarked from England aboard HT Warwickshire on 5 April 1919 and disembarked in Adelaide on 25 April. He was discharged on 25 July 1919.

Bert married Lavinia Bracegirdle at St. Oswald’s Church, Parkside on 8 November 1924. Two children were born, Patricia Mary in 1927 and Phyllis Lorraine in 1928. Bert died on 5 March 1949 and is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Kendrew Oval. Lavinia , who passed away in 1973 is buried in Centennial Park, General AD, Path 4, Grave 268.

Bert's father G93 Corporal George Sandercock, 4MD Reserve Guard; and four brothers 4508 Shoeing-Smith Arthur Jubilee Sandercock, 27 Bn AIF/ Aus Veterinary Hospital; 8960 Farrier Staff Sergeant Thomas Best Sandercock, 20 Coy Army Service Corps; 2475 Private George Frederick Sandercock, 50 Bn AIF; 3898 Driver James Sandercock, 10 Bn AIF/20 Coy Army Service Corps; served in WW1 and two brothers A471 Sergeant Roland John Sandercock, RAAF; and SX115 Lance Sergeant Roy Sandercock, 2/10 Bn AIF served in WW2.