Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Discharged medically unfit (wounded third time) on 18 Aug 1917

Qld Birth Name: Albert Daniel Sommer 
Father's name: Wilhelm August Friedrich Sommer
Mother's name: Auguste Louisa Wilhelmine Ludwig

"SOMMERS, Mr. Albert Daniel, Victor Drive, Chermside, No. 69, 9th Batt., 1st A.I.F.— Relatives & Friends of Mrs. E. Sommers & Family, Mr. & Mrs. H. Weathered & Family, Mr. & Mrs. T. Frankham, Mr. & Mrs. S. Davis & Family are respectfully advised of the death of her beloved Husband, their Father, Father-in-law, Son-in-law, & Brother-in-law. The Funeral is appointed to leave the Parlour, 400 Wickham St., on Monday at 10 a.m. for Lutwyche Cemetery.

SOMMERS, Albert Daniel.— Limbless Soldiers' Association. Officers and Members of above Association are requested to attend the Funeral of their late Member, Albert Daniel Sommers, to leave as per family notice." - from the Courier Mail 08 Jan 1949 (nla.gov.au)

From Australian Remembrance Army

Private Albert Daniel Sommer (aka Somers) (Service No. 69), an Australian World War One veteran who served our nation at Gallipoli, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque recognising their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 15 April 2023, along with a further 246 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See From Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

Albert was born on 12th October 1895 in Beenleigh, Queensland to parents Auguste Wilhelmine Ludwig and Wilhelm August Friedrich Sommer and was the second youngest of six children (5 sons, 1 daughter).

On 18th August 1914, at the age of 19 years, Albert enlisted with the AIF in Brisbane and on the 24 September, embarked from Brisbane for active service abroad on Transport A5 “Omrah” as a member of the 9th Battalion, A Company. On 2nd March 1915, Albert proceeded to join the MEF (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) in Gallipoli and was amongst the first to land on 25th April 1915. He was wounded in action at Gallipoli Peninsula on 25th April 1915 and admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis, Egypt with a bullet in the right arm. The following day, Albert was transferred Mena for care before rejoining unit Anzac three months later on 13th July.

Albert was wounded for a second occasion at the Dardanelles on 13th October 1915. He received severe bomb wounds to both hands and was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred – first to the Hospital Ship, “Valdivia” and then to “Dongala”. On 21st October he embarked on Hospital Ship “Aquitania” from Mudros (a small Greek port on the island of Lemnos) and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth, England.
The following January, Albert was discharged from hospital to the Depot. The following year, on 25th March 1916, Albert returned to duty in Egypt embarking from England on the “Huntspill”, joining the 47th Battalion in Serapeum, Egypt in April. On 2nd June 1916, they proceed to join the British Expeditionary Force from Alexandria, disembarking from Transport “Caledonia” at Marseilles on 9th June.
On 11th August 1916, Albert was wounded in action at Pozieres, France. He received a severe gunshot wound to his right arm and was admitted to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. There was a large shell wound on the outer side of his forearm and nearly three inches of the upper part of his ulna (one of two bones that make up the forearm) was missing. Albert was transferred in a serious condition to the 24th General Hospital in Etaples, France the following day where he spent 12 days before being transferred to the 1st Eastern General Hospital in England for treatment. He spent 10 weeks at this hospital before being transferred to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital in Southall, England. Albert was discharged from hospital on 9th November and marched in to No. 2 Com Depot, Weymouth.

Albert was returned to Australia on 04 May 1917 on board “Runic” and was discharged from the AIF at Brisbane on 18 August 1917 “Medically Unfit – Disability – Gun Shot Wound, Right Forearm”.
In August of 1927, Albert was married to Eliza Frankham. Eliza and Albert lived in Victor Drive, Chermside and had four children – two daughters and two sons.

Due to the injury received to his right arm in France during the war, Albert consistently suffered severe pain in his arm. He had severe arthritis in his elbow joint and very little use of his right hand. The decision was made to amputate his right arm above the elbow and Albert underwent surgery on 15 July 1930 and was discharged from hospital on 20 August.

On 7th January 1949, Albert passed away at the age of 53 years. He was buried three days later in ANZAC Portion 7 at Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia—ensuring that his name endures among those honoured for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget