CONNINGTON, Alexander William
| Service Number: | 615 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 September 1916, 43a Senior Cadets (2 years); 43rd Infantry (1.5 years); AIF (1 month, under age); 36th Infantry (still serving) |
| Last Rank: | Corporal Mechanic |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
| Born: | Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, November 1895 |
| Home Town: | Stanmore, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | North Goulburn Public School & Goulburn District Secondary School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Fitter and turner |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Central Military Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, 25 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
St. Tysilio's Churchyard, Isle of Anglesey, Wales, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket Loco Turning and Machine Shop Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 615, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, 43a Senior Cadets (2 years); 43rd Infantry (1.5 years); AIF (1 month, under age); 36th Infantry (still serving) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement 615, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 615, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 615, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked 615, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 11 May 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal Mechanic, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Cpl Mech Connington returned to England to begin training as a pilot flying officer but became severely ill with pneumonia. | |
| 25 Oct 1918: | Involvement 615, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 615 awm_unit: No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Corporal Mechanic awm_died_date: 1918-10-25 |
Help us honour Alexander William Connington's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Alexander William Connington was born at Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales in 1895 to parents William James and Mary Connington (nee Parker).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 19th September, 1916 as a 21 year old, single, Fitter & Turner from 56 Stafford Street, Stanmore, Sydney, NSW.
Private Alexander Connington, Service number 615, was posted to 2nd Australian Flying Squadron at Laverton on 22nd September, 1916.
Private/Air Mechanic (2 entries are recorded for the First World War Embarkation Roll on the Australian War Memorial website) Alexander William Connington embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 25th October, 1916 as part of 2nd Australian Flying Squadron “A” Flight & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 28th December, 1916.
From 9th January, 1917 Private Connington, attached to No 69 Australian Squadron, R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps), was on command to Scottish School of Fitters for a course of instruction at Edinburgh. He rejoined his Unit at Carlton on 7th February, 1917 from Scottish School of Fitters.
He was sent sick to Hospital on 14th February, 1917. He was admitted to Isolation Hospital at Bagthorpe, Nottingham with Cerebro Spinal Fever & discharged on 19th May, 1917.
2nd Air Mechanic Alexander Connington was marched into No. 69 Squadron, A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) at Sth Carlton from Hospital at Bagthorpe, Nottingham on 26th May, 1917.
On 17th July, 1917 2nd Air Mechanic Connington was on command at School of Instruction, School of Armament, R.F.C. Perivale, West Walling & re-joined No. 69 Squadron, A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) on 31st July, 1917 from School of Armament from Course of Instruction: Synchronised Gears.
He proceeded overseas to France on 21st August, 1917 & disembarked for B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) by air in France on 10th September, 1917
2nd Air Mechanic Alexander Connington was posted a new designation on 18th January, 1918 – No. 3 Squadron, A.F.C.
He was on leave to Paris from 16th March, 1918 & rejoined from leave on 23rd March, 1918,
On 1st May, 1918 2nd Air Mechanic Connington was promoted to Corporal vice 560 Corporal F. Linsley promoted.
Corporal Alexander Connington reported sick in France on 2nd May, 1918. He was taken to 61st Casualty Clearing Station with influenza then transferred to No. 7 Ambulance Train on 3rd May, 1918. Corporal Connington was admitted to 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France with Trench Fever on 4th May, 1918. He was discharged to 6th Convalescent Depot at Etaples on 8th May, 1918 & discharged to Base Depot on 17th May, 1918.
He was remustered Corporal Mechanic on 17th May, 1918 (A.I.F. order No. 1735).
On 20th May, 1918 Corporal Mechanic Connington was marched in to No. 1 Air Depot. He was posted to No. 3 Squadron A.F.C. on 25th May, 1918 & rejoined No. 3 Squadron from being sick on 28th May, 1918.
Corporal Mechanic Alexander Connington was paid in France on 7th June, 1918.
Corporal Mechanic Alexander Connington proceeded to England for training as A.F.C. Flying Officer (Pilot) (no date recorded).
He was posted to Home Establishment on 12th October, 1918 & disembarked at Folkestone, England on 13th October, 1918 on duty from France & to report to O.C. Aviation, London.
On 15th October, 1918 Corporal Mechanic Connington was admitted to Central Military Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England suffering from Pneumonia - severe. Corporal Mechanic Alexander Connington had been transferred from C.A.A. at Halton.
Corporal Alexander William Connington died at 6.15 pm on 25th October, 1918 at Central Military Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England from Pneumonia. Corporal Alexander William Connington died exactly 2 years to the day from embarking from Melbourne for the War.
The body of Corporal Alexander William Connington was sent to Menai Bridge for burial - to Miss M. Connington (Cousin) Gwyn-Fryn, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, Wales.
He was buried on 30th October, 1918 in St. Tysilio Churchyard, Llandysilio, Menai, Isle of Anglesey, Wales – in north-west part and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/menai-bridge---wales.html
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