CAMERON, Alexander Douglas
| Service Numbers: | 224, Commissioned Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 March 1916, Hillgrove, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 36th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hillgrove, Armidale Dumaresq - New South Wales, Australia, 1889 |
| Home Town: | Hillgrove, Armidale Dumaresq, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Villers Bretonneux, France, 4 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Crucifix Corner Cemetery Plot IX, Row A, Grave No. 13 |
| Memorials: | Armidale Memorial Fountain, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 224, 36th Infantry Battalion, Hillgrove, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 224, 36th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 36th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Killed in the 36th Battalion counter-attack at Villers Bretonneux :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 36th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-04-04 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
"Low in Glory's Lap,"
HILLGROVE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
Lieut. Alexander Douglas Cameron, who fell, nobly leading his men in the fighting on the Somme, on April 4th, 1918, has left behind him amongst the people of Hillgrove and district a lasting memory. Long before the out-break of war he had earned a reputation of which any young man might be proud. He carried the precepts learned of exemplary parents into his every day life, and gave promise of a useful and successful career. The call of national service appealed to him with irresistible force, and he threw aside the avocations of peace and entered upon the hazardous enterprise in which he met his death. When he fell he was mourned throughout the district by all who knew him, and his example will stand always as the embodiment of all that is highest in patriotic ideals.
A memorial service was held at Hillgrove on Sunday, 23rd June, when the School of Arts was filled by a reverent congregation. The service was conducted by Rev. Staff-Chaplain of the No. 2 Military District—Rev. J. Auchinleck-Ross, V.D., and the Presbyterian Home Missionary for the Hillgrove-Kilcoy charge, Mr. W. L. I. Arnold.
In the attendance the Oddfellows' Lodge and Rifle Club were well represented, and there were also a number of people from Armidale and the surrounding districts.
The service throughout was most impressive, and the special music was rendered by a combined choir. Mr. Arnold read the lesson from I. Corinthians, 15-20, and after the recital of special sentences and a commendatory prayer, the Last Post was sounded.
An impressive address was delivered by Rev. J. Auchinleck-Ross, from the text, "Greater love hath no man shown than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John XV. 13). The preached related some thrilling experiences our men were going through at the front, and described the late Lieut. A. D. Cameron as a man, a gentleman, and a thorough soldier. He also read a letter from Lt.-Col. Milne (who has himself since been killed), describing Lieut. Cameron's heroic end. The letter stated, inter alia, "That at a most critical time when the Germans were advancing, Lieut. Cameron led his men on to victory, turning the German advance into a retreat. When Lieut. Cameron became aware of the result, he threw up his hat and shouted "Hurrah, Boys!" He was then said by a sniper, and died immediately. He was buried at Villers." He (Rev. Ross) extended to the family, on behalf of all friends in the district, their heartfelt sympathy with them in their great trial.
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
His parents were John and Annie CAMERON, Hillgrove, New South Wales
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
Member of the Hillgrove 192 Lodge
Lieutenant Alexander Cameron (a 28 year old engineer from Hillgrove in New SOuth Wales) was shot and killed at point blank range by a sniper, who was himself immediately shot and killed by Lieutenant Arthur Townsend (a 23 year old balcksmith from Mallanganee in New South Wales) who continued with the attack. *
Australians on the Western Front 1918 Vol 1 David Cameron 2018 Penguin Random House Australia. ISBN 978 0 14378 8614 pp142
According to the CWGC, Cameron was 29 at the time of his death.
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