S8431
MELVILLE, Archibald Horace
| Service Number: | 341 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 January 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 18 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | Brooklyn Park, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Masons Labourer |
| Died: | South Australia, 22 September 1954, aged 64 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 341, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 341, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 15 Jan 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
My Grandfather's Service
Pte Archibald Melville enlisted in Adelaide SA on 26th January 1916. After initial
training he was posted to the 43rd Infantry Btn on 7th March 1916 and trained at the Morphettville Camp. His battalion embarked on HMAT Afric (A19) on the
9th of June 1916. On arrival in the UK he spent some time in hospital suffering
Lumber Myalgia and eventually proceeded to France on 25 Nov 1916. He was
wounded in action (GSW left arm and thigh) on 26th Jan 1917. He rejoined his
unit on 16 March 1917 and was subsequently wounded a second time at Wimereux (GSW right leg) and returned to England on 6th July 1917. After a period of recovery from his wounds he returned to Australia on 1st of November 1917 and was discharged in 4MD on 15th January 1918.
Although I never knew my Grandfather that well. I am told he did not talk about
his wartime experiences. There is no do it had a enormous impact on his life.
He was 27 years old when he enlisted and had three children. Obviously this was
also a difficult time for my Grandmother waiting home and receiving the WIA
notifications.
He walked with a limp as the result of his leg injury and no doubt had to deal with
the mental trauma that we now know to be PTSD.
However, he lived a productive life. He was involved in a dairy, and was a
capable French Polisher and Builder. He passed away on 29th September 1954
Submitted 23 April 2015 by Brian Melville
Biography
Pte Archibald Melville enlisted in Adelaide SA on 26th January 1916. After initial training he was posted to the 43rd Infantry Btn on 7th March 1916 and trained at the Morphettville Camp. His battalion embarked on HMAT Afric (A19) on the 9th of June 1916. On arrival in the UK he spent some time in hospital suffering Lumber Myalgia and eventually proceeded to France on 25 Nov 1916. He was wounded in action (GSW left arm and thigh) on 26th Jan 1917. He rejoined his
unit on 16 March 1917 and was subsequently wounded a second time at Wimereux (GSW right leg) and returned to England on 6th July 1917. After a period of recovery from his wounds he returned to Australia on 1st of November 1917 and was discharged in 4MD on 15th January 1918.
Although I never knew my Grandfather that well. I am told he did not talk about his wartime experiences. There is no doubt it had an enormous impact on his life. He was 27 years old when he enlisted and had three children. Obviously this was also a difficult time for my Grandmother waiting home and receiving the WIA notifications.
He walked with a limp as the result of his leg injury and no doubt had to deal with the mental trauma that we now know to be PTSD.
However, he lived a productive life. He was involved in a dairy, and was a capable French Polisher and Builder. He passed away on 29th September 1954
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