BACKLER, Albert Henry
| Service Number: | 261 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kingston, South Australia, 12 September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Kingston South East, Kingston, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Kingston Public School, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation: | Saddler |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France Panel 4, VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (1), Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kingston South East War Memorial, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 261, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 261, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
| 18 Nov 1915: |
Embarked
AIF WW1, Private, 261, 32nd Infantry Battalion, embarkation_roll: roll_number: 17 embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: |
|
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 261, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 261, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Statement on file, 117 Pte I.J. ISAAC, 31 January 1917: 'I saw him wounded in the charge at Fromelles on July 19th. He was taken away next morning. Sgt. robinson, S/B. A. Coy, helped to carry him. I am certain he got away safely.' Note on Red Cross File No 410201: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.' |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Francis de Sales College
Albert's parents later received another letter confirming that their son had been killed in action. Albert's father Henry responded to that letter asking for further information on his son’s death but was told there was none at this point in time. Henry tried once again to get further information but was told that there was no further information on his son’s death including no known location of his son's remains.
Source: NAA Service Record
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 25 and the son of Henry Thomas and Elizabeth Backler, of Kingston, South Australia.
Biography
Son of Henry Thomas BACKLER and Elizabeth nee ANDERSON
"...261 Private Albert Henry Backler, 32nd Battalion. A saddler from Kingston, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with C Company from Adelaide on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong (A2) for Suez. The battalion relocated to the Western Front, France, during June 1916 and Pte Backler was appointed Lance Corporal (L Cpl) on arrival. L Cpl Backler was reported missing in action at the Battle of Fromelles on 20 July 1916 and was subsequently determined to have been killed in action on that date. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France. He was aged 23 years." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.
Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.
Reported missing, 20 July 1916.
Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in action, 20 July 1916'.
Statement on file, 117 Pte I.J. ISAAC, 31 January 1917: 'I saw him wounded in the charge at Fromelles on July 19th. He was taken away next morning. Sgt. robinson, S/B. A. Coy, helped to carry him. I am certain he got away safely.'
Note on Red Cross File No 410201: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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