PURVIS, Donald
| Service Numbers: | 1222, 1170 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Emmaville, New South Wales, Australia, 19 February 1890 |
| Home Town: | Emmaville, Glen Innes Severn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Emmaville Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 16 September 1917, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1222, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1170, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1170, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 7 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1st Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Donald Purvis's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Donald Purvis served at the Landing on Gallipoli and was wounded in action at Lone Pine in August 1915. He was evacuated and rejoined his unit on Gallipoli a month later where he served for the duration.
He was killed in action at Menin Road in Belgium. A witness stated "I knew Private Purvis very well. He was a Lewis Gunner and an old hand. He was killed at Ypres in September; it was just before we went over. He and a Lieutenant and some others had been sent out to find the position so that we could take it over the next day. He was killed instantly by a shell. I think the lieutenant got back. Private Purvis was very well liked."
His two brothers, 198 Pte Henry Harold Purvis, 4th Battalion, was killed in action at Lagnicourt, 15 April 1917 and 2630 Pte Alfred William Alexander Purvis MM, 3rd Machine Gun Bn, returned to Australia, June 1919.