Varney Milton ARCHER

ARCHER, Varney Milton

Service Number: 4800
Enlisted: 30 August 1915, Lismore, New South Wales
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 26th Infantry Battalion
Born: Bushgrove, New South Wales, Australia, 16 August 1895
Home Town: Maclean, Clarence Valley, New South Wales
Schooling: South Arm Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Killed in Action, Flers, France, 14 November 1916, aged 21 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

30 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4800, Lismore, New South Wales
12 Apr 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4800, 26th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Mooltan embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
12 Apr 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4800, 26th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mooltan, Sydney
14 Nov 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4800, 26th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17

Help us honour Varney Milton Archer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

"Word has been received by Cr. D, Archer, of Woodford Leigh, that his son, Private Varney Archer, has been officially reported missing since the 15th November. Private Archer had been in action in France for some time previous to November." - from the Grafton Daily Examiner 06 Jan 1917 (nla.gov.au)

"Private Varney Archer, writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Archer, Roberts' Creek, three days before he was reported missing, stated he had just received a box from his parents containing cakes, etc., which he appreciated very much. He mentioned having seen Private W. Cooper, of the same district, shot, but did not know whether he was seriously injured or not. It was in a charge. They took part in a great charge on the Sunday previous to writing, and Private Archer recalls the awful sight of all the dead Germans, when the Australians captured the former's trench, which was literally full of German dead, due to the awful fire of the artillery, which Private Archer describes as the best on the Western front." - from the Grafton Daily Examiner 03 Feb 1917 (nla.gov.au)

"Information has been received through the War Office and conveyed to his par ents by the Rev. M. Gerry (Anglican), that Private V. M. Archer, 26th Battalion, is now reported killed in action; also to convey the deepest sympathy of the King, Queen, Army and Commonwealth Government to his parents, in the loss of their son and soldier. Private Archer was reported missing some time ago, and was 21 years of age, and ason of Cr. D. L. Archer, of the Harwood Shire." - from the Grafton Daily Examiner 07 Aug 1917 (nla.gov.au)

Read more...