Alfred William FITCH

Alfred William FITCH Update Details

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FITCH, Alfred William

Other Name:	Ansell, Alfred William Fitch
Service Number:	2825
Enlisted:	1 July 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	5th Pioneer Battalion
Born:	Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia, 1886
Home Town:	Swan Hill, Swan Hill, Victoria
Schooling:	Swan Hill State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916
Cemetery:	Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery To be rededicated on 19 July 2024
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

1 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2825, Depot Battalion
10 Sep 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2825, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: ''
10 Sep 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2825, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of Victoria, Melbourne
17 Feb 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 57th Infantry Battalion
21 Mar 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 5th Pioneer Battalion
19 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2825, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

Help us honour Alfred William Fitch's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by VWM Australia

Private Alfred William Ansell (Fitch) has been found and identified along with 6 others in 2024. His remains were discovered in 2007 but only recently with the use of DNA and forensic evidence has he been positively identified.

Private Ansell will have his headstone rededicated on the anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2024.

During the process of entering his information into the VWMA, the date of death is now corrected. On page 33 of his service records, a translated German document outlines he fell on 19.7.1916 near Fromelles. He was originally marked as falling on 23 July 1916. The Red Cross file indicates he went out on the attack on the 19th of July 1916 and didn't return.

Lest We Forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia