REID, Mersey Albert
| Service Number: | 3286 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 August 1915, 3 years 1st AIR |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia, 6 December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozieres, France, 28 July 1916, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la Boisselle Plot III, Row A, Grave No. 6, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3286, 17th Infantry Battalion, 3 years 1st AIR | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement 3286, 17th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked 3286, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 28 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 3286, 17th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3286 awm_unit: 17th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Mersey Albert REID (Service Number 3286) was born on 6th December 1890 at Leichhardt. He began work as a shop boy in the Locomotive Branch at Eveleigh on 10th August 1908. By 1910 he had become a cleaner ( on the career path to driver) and by March 1912 to fireman. His career came to a halt on 18th January 1913 when he was dismissed for making ‘untruthful statements re leaving engine etc.’ He unsuccessfully appealed to the Commissioner. However, by 7th August it was agreed that he could be re-employed as a labourer. He was a cleaner a week later and a fireman in December 1913. He was still in this role on 3rd August 1915 when he joined the Expeditionary Forces.
Reid enlisted at Warwick Farm on 17th August. At that time, he claimed to be a locomotive driver, to have had three years’ military experience with the 1st Australian Infantry Regiment and gave his mother Mary Ann Reid, living in Newtown as his next of kin. He was allotted to the 7th Reinforcements to the 7th Battalion. Reid embarked HMAT ‘Suevic’ at Sydney on 20th December 1915 and reached Egypt in the new year. He held the rank of Acting Sergeant for the duration of the voyage. He was taken on the strength of the 17th Battalion at Alexandria on 15th March 1916. Two days later he embarked at Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front in France, passing through Marseilles on 23rd March.
He was killed in action in France on 28th July 1916 and buried South of Coutalmaison, 3½ miles ENE of Albert. In the rationalisation of cemeteries after the war, Reid’s remains were exhumed and re-interred at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Sausage Valley, Ovillers-La Boisselle, 2½ miles ENE of Albert, France.
A pension of £2 per fortnight was granted to his mother from 14th November 1916.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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