BREEN, Alexander
| Service Number: | 1400 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Timor, Victoria, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Clunes, Hepburn, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1400, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1400, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1400, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Berrima, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alexander Breen was awarded a Military Medal for his extreme courage at Pozieres between the 8-12 August 1916 when he was a Battalion runner. He made at least a dozen trips backward and forward through a hurricane bombardment of shrapnel and high explosives. Although buried and rescued on several occasions he continued to risk himself in order to maintain communications.
He was awarded a Bar to the Military Medal on the 5 April 1918 at Hebuterne when essentially doing the same thing. When one of his mates was fatally wounded, he remained with him in a very exposed position in the midst of the barrage area, until a stretcher was procured. he then carried on with his work and remained constantly in the open; exposed to Artillery fire for a period of five hours. His high standard of courage greatly impressed his 16th Battalion mates.
Alexander was one of three children whose Mum and Dad had passed away when they enlisted in 1915. Two boys and a girl. The two brothers both enlisted, Alexander was only 18 years of age when he joined up and his sister wrote quite a few letters in his service file seeking information on her brothers. Alex returned to Australia 6 September 1919, with a MM and Bar. his brother 1112 Private Jack Breen 1st MG Battalion died in France on the 6 April 1918, age 26.