Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert was the son of Frederick BEESLEY & Marr Ann ELLIOTT and was born on the 24th of June 1895 in the family home at 20 Chapel Street, Thebarton, SA.

His parents were married on the 23rd of December 1874 in the Wesleyan Parsonage, Brompton, SA.

His father was the son of Joseph BEESLEY & Ann LACY and was born on the 13th of December 1848 in Thebarton, SA.
His mother was the daughter of Henry Ferris ELLIOTT & Sarah Sophia MASON and was born on the 2nd of July 1856 in McLaren Vale, SA.

Albert was the twelfth child born into this family of 14 children.

His father was a plumber and the BEESLEY family lived at 20 Chapel Street, Thebarton.
Although there were 14 children born into this family, 7 died in infancy.

Albert joined the senior cadets at school - 78C and on completing his education he gained work as a labourer.

Albert was 17 years old when his father died on the 16th of May 1912 in the Adelaide Hospital and they buried him with his parents, in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Lower L42.

In 1914 Albert joined the 76th Infantry Battalion in Pt Adelaide and then in the first week of August 1915 Ernest moved to Broken Hill, where his brother Frank and his young family were living.
Sadly Frank died 5 weeks later on the 13th of September 1915 and they buried him in the Broken Hill Cemetery.

Albert then returned to the family home in Thebarton and at the age of 20, he enlisted into the AIF on the 12th of May 1916 in Adelaide, SA.
He was allotted the service number 2135 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion at Exhibition Camp.
He was then transferred to the 50th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Ballarat on the 12th of August 1916.

He trained in England and was then transferred to the 43rd Battalion and proceeded to France.

He suffered from Influenza and was wounded twice, and after nearly 3 years overseas, he embarked for Australia on the 25th of January 1919 on board HT Ceramic and disembarked in Adelaide on the 6th of March.

He returned to his mother in the family home at 20 Chapel Street, Thebarton and gained employment as a labourer.

Albert was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of April 1919.

On the 1st of August 1920 Albert was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital suffering from Septic Tonsillitis.

Sadly, Albert succumb to the sepsis and never recovered and died on the 13th of August 1920 in the Adelaide Hospital.
His mother buried him 2 days later in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Lower, Path L, Plot 42.

BEESLEY — On the 13th August, Albert Ernest, son of Mrs. M. A. Beesley, late of 43rd Battalion, 20, Chapel Street, Thebarton, interred at Hindmarsh Cemetery, on Sunday, August 15th . At rest.

He is buried with his grandparents, parents and brother’s; Clarence and George.

Military

At the age of 20, Albert enlisted into the AIF on the 12th of May 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 2135 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion at Exhibition Camp.
He listed his mother, of 20 Chapel Street, Thebarton, as his next of kin and she gave her consent for him to enlist.

On the 16th of June he was transferred to the 50th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp.

Albert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Ballarat on the 12th of August 1916, disembarked in Devonport on the 30th of September and entrained to 13th Training Battalion in Codford Camp.

Three weeks later he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion on the 25th of October and
during the first three weeks of November final preparations and issue of equipment for the trip overseas were completed, and the dates of departure of the Division were expected to cover the last week of November 1916

Then towards the end of November, when they had been fully equipped for overseas, a divisional march, covering a distance of eighteen miles, was accomplished.
The full issue of clothing and equipment, less blankets, being carried, on the day proved most strenuous on account of the oppressive heat.

The 43rd Battalion eventually sailed on the 25th, prior to which the camp was thoroughly cleaned and the bulk of stores returned.
For the purpose of the move the Battalion was divided into three parties, leaving Lark Hill Camp in time to entrain at Amesbury Station by 7.15am. The weight of equipment carried by each man was far in excess of that borne on any previous march, as in addition to full marching order, two blankets, 150 rounds of ammunition, with steel and gas helmets, made a burden in all cases exceeding 80 lb.
At dusk the trip across the Channel commenced and a heavy sea was experienced, causing sea sickness to many on board, while a bleak wind with frequent showers of hail made the entry into the harbour at Le Havre and the period of waiting intensely cold.

Disembarkation and unloading commenced at 11am and during the afternoon there followed the memorable route march to No.1 Rest Camp, situated on a hill about three miles from the wharf. Here they remained for the night, leaving at 6.30am next morning for the railway yards, where a troop train, consisting chiefly of cattle trucks, was waiting, and at 11.30am they left for Bailleul.

The journey, via Rouen, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais, and St. Omer, occupied thirty hours, halts being made en route for the issue of rations and hot drinks.
Detraining was completed before dark, but by the time the unit moved from the station night had set in. For the march to billets, packs and blankets were carried by motor lorry. Locating these billets caused great difficulty, owing to the lack of information and absence of guides, and it was not until after 10 pm that they were settled for the night.

On December 23rd, in a high wind and through heavy rain, a march to new billets in Armentieres was carried out. They, with the 44th Battalion, formed support to the 41st and 42nd Battalions.
Christmas Day 1916 was celebrated in the morning with working parties to the line and in the evening by a dinner, extra supplies being obtained through Comforts and Regimental Funds.

Four days later Albert suffered from Scabies and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul.
Then on the 16th of January he was transferred to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station in Hazebrouck for 3 days before rejoining his Battalion.

They spent February 1917 in and out of the front line and whilst in billets the raiding school continued training in bayonet fighting, physical exercises, patrolling, study of aeroplane photographs and practice of raiding formations on dummy trenches.
In April they were located at Ploegsteert Wood, in rotation with the 42nd Battalion, before moving to Armentieres.

On the 1st of May they left Armentieres and joined the remainder of the Brigade at Les Trois Tilleuls, proceeding through Steenwerck and Vieux Berquin to Petit See Bois. The following day they moved through Pradelles, Borre, and Hazebrouck to billets at Ebblinghem.
After 2 weeks here they commenced their journey back to Armentiers and by the 7th of June had moved to Messines and took part in the Battle.

Throughout the whole time in this area enemy aircraft proved exceptionally active, especially in the early morning, when low-flying planes engaged trenches and movement with machine gun fire.
The famous Red Circus, commanded by Baron von Richthoven, was stationed in the area and was a constant source of worry to both infantry and artillery.

On the 10th of June they relieved the 44th Battalion in the front line at Messines and the following day Albert suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his left leg and was admitted into a Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul.
The next day he was transferred by No.7 Ambulance Train to the 16th General Hospital in Treport.
He remained here until the 2nd of July when he was discharged to the 3rd Convalescent Depot in Boulogne for 8 days and then was discharged to the 3rd ADBD in Rouelles.

Albert rejoined his Battalion on the 4th of August, who was in training at Jesus Farm, near Steenwerck.
They then moved to Avroult for further training and by the end of September they had moved into camp near Poperinghe and whilst here Albert was promoted to Lance Corporal.

They remained here resting and training until the 2nd of October when they entrained for Ypres for the offensive.
On the 4th of October they advanced to take up the front line for 2 days and then returned to Toronto Camp to reorganise for their next offensive.
On the 9th of October they moved back into the front line and in close support of the 44th Battalion and then two days later they moved to Bremen Redoubt Camp, still in close support of the 44th Battalion.

Whilst here, Albert suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his right hand on the 14th of October and was admitted into the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance.
The following day he was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding and then transferred by No.15 Ambulance Train to the 30th General Hospital in Calais.
He spent 9 days here before he was discharged to the 3rd ADBD in Rouelles on the 25th of October.

Albert rejoined his Battalion on the 17th of November at Canteen Corner Camp where they were the reserve Brigade for the 9th and 10th Brigades who were holding the line from the Lys River to the Douve River.
The remainder of November and early December was spent here in training and then on the 5th of December, Albert was granted 2 weeks leave to England.
When he rejoined his Battalion they had moved to Erquinghem and Albert spent Christmas Day 1917 here before moving into the front line at Bois Grenier the following day.

They were then relieved on the 3rd of January 1918 and moved to Waterlands Camp, about 1 mile west. The following day, they embussed for Locre and billeted in Doncaster Huts Camp, for rest and reorganisation.
They left here on the 27th and marched through Neuve Eglise to Romarin Camp and then onto Le Rossignol Camp.

On the 29th of January Albert suffered from Pyrexia (fever) and was admitted into the 10th Australian Filed Ambulance for 7 days before being transferred to the Dressing Station and diagnosed with Influenza.
Five days later he was transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Outtersteene and then transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at the railhead at Trois Arbres on the 24th of February.
By this time he was also diagnosed with severe Trench Fever and 2 days later he was transferred by No.33 Ambulance Train to the 53rd General Hospital in Boulogne.

Albert was then evacuated to England on the 6th of March on HS St Denis and admitted into the Brook War Hospital in Woolwich.
He spent 16 days here before he was discharged to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford and then five weeks later he was discharged to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott.

Whilst here, on the 30th of May Albert went AWOL for 8 days and was forfeited 14 days pay.
Then on the 18th of May he suffered again from Influenza and was admitted into the Brigade Hospital for 7 weeks before being discharged to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny.
On the 2nd of October he was admitted into the Group Hospital for 9 days, suffering from Herpes preputialis.

Albert was discharged from hospital and posted to the Overseas Training Battalion at Longbridge Deverill on the 11th of November, the same day the Armistice was signed.

Three days later he was admitted into the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford, suffering from the previous illness.
Two weeks later he was discharged back to the Overseas Training Battalion where he spent Christmas 1918.

Albert embarked from England on the 25th of January 1919 on board HT Ceramic and disembarked in Adelaide on the 6th of March.

Albert was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of April 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.