Anthony James (Tony) BRATCHFORD

BRATCHFORD, Anthony James

Service Number: 1688
Enlisted: 30 August 1915, at Adelaide
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 15th Infantry Battalion
Born: Norwood, South Australia, 26 September 1886
Home Town: Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia
Schooling: Christian Brothers College
Occupation: Telegraph Linesman
Died: Killed in Action, Bullecourt, France, 11 April 1917, aged 30 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Adelaide Christian Brothers' College WW1 Roll of Honor, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Norwood Football Club War Veterans, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
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World War 1 Service

30 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1688, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide
11 Jan 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1688, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1,

--- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: ''

11 Jan 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1688, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide
9 Aug 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1688, 15th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, GSW left thigh
11 Apr 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1688, 15th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (First),

--- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1688 awm_unit: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-04-11

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Biography contributed by Anthony Procopio

Anthony James Bratchford was born on the 26th September, 1886 in Glenelg, South Australia and grew up in Prospect, South Australia. Anthony was the third child in his family, and was born to John and Ellen Bratchford. Anthony listed as 5'9" and 142 lbs at his enlistment. Anthony grew up playing football as a youngster, eventually he was selected to play for the Norwood Redlegs. He attended his education at Christian Brothers College (CBC) in Adelaide. 

Anthony enlisted with the AIF on the 30th August, 1915, when he was 29 years old. Although he initially enlisted in the 32nd Battalion, he was transferred to the 15th Battalion when he arrived in Egypt. Anthony was wounded in the thigh during the fighting around Mouquet Farm on 9 August 1916. After recovering in England he was discharged from hospital in early October. He rejoined the 15th Battalion in January 1917 but was killed in action at the first battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917. His body was never recovered.

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Biography

"THE LATE PRIVATE A. J. BRATCHFORD.

News of the death of the late Private Anthony James (Tony) Bratchford, of Glenelg, was received by his relatives on Monday, June 11. He was the third son of the late John and Ellen Bratchford (late of Norwood). He sailed with his brother Will in January, 1916, for Egypt, and was wounded at Pozieres in August, 1916. He was educated at the Christian Brothers' College, Adelaide, and before enlisting was employed in the Telegraph Department. He was well known in the athletic circle, being particularly interested in the Norwood Football Club and the St. Ignatius Cricket Club.- R.I.P."from the Adelaide Southern Cross 22 Jun 1917 (nla.gov.au)

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