Alfred Harold POSSINGHAM

POSSINGHAM, Alfred Harold

Service Number: 64
Enlisted: 1 September 1914
Last Rank: Captain
Last Unit: 8th Infantry Battalion
Born: Houghton, South Australia, 15 August 1884
Home Town: Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Soldier
Died: Killed In Action, Gallipoli, 8 May 1915, aged 30 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide St Mary Magdalene Church Honour Roll, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Houghton War Memorial, Norwood Primary School Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

1 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 64
18 Oct 1914: Promoted AIF WW1, Captain
19 Oct 1914: Involvement Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: ''
19 Oct 1914: Embarked Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne
8 May 1915: Involvement Captain, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 8 Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1915-05-08

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of Alfred Reeds Possingham and Emma Possingham nee Snewin of South Australia. Brother of Mary Lois Possingham, Ada Martha Possingham, Ethel May Possingham, Arthur John William Possingham, Thomas Possingham and Stanley Snewin Possingham

Husband of Emily Alma Ross formerly Possingham of Meiklefield, Scotland. Previously of Seventh Avenue, Mayfields, WA

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

When the commander of the 8th Battalion, William Bolton, wrote home to his wife, he paid tribute to several Ballarat officers who fell during the early days of the campaign. “….I was talking to poor Possingham when he was shot through the heart. I saw him sway, and caught hold of his hands, and gently lowered him to the ground.  I knew he was dead, for he never moved nor breathed afterwards. So died one of the finest men I ever knew, one of Nature's gentlemen, one of the most capable officers in the Commonwealth Forces, and as conscientious as he was capable. He was loved by the whole brigade…."

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