BINNS, Albert
| Service Number: | 19234 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 7th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 8 December 1895 |
| Home Town: | Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | Influenza and Bronchitis, Randwick Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, 18 January 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Chippendale Substation Staff NSW Govt. Tramways Honour Roll, Haymarket Substation Staff of NSW Government Tramways Roll of Honour, Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 19234, 7th Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 19234, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 11 May 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 19234, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Albert Binns's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Albert Binns (1895–1918)
Albert Binns was born on 8 December 1895 in Randwick, New South Wales, the son of Charles Arthur Binns, a commercial traveller, and Hannah Lister(1) Binns(2). He had one brother, Cecil(3). The family lived first in Bishop’s Avenue, Randwick(4), later moving to Reefview on Alison Road also in Randwick(5). Albert was baptised, by J.W. Sillett, into the Church of England in 1897(6), a faith he maintained throughout his life(7).
Albert attended Sydney Technical High School (then part of Sydney Technical College at Ultimo) between 1906 and 1912, later continuing in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Physics(8). After leaving school, he worked as an electrician at both the Chippendale and Haymarket substations(9). His father died on 2 November 1915, just months before Albert’s own enlistment into the AIF(10).
Before joining the AIF, Albert served for two years in the 33rd Fortress Engineers(11), a militia unit responsible for local coastal defence. His service earned him entitlement to the 1914–15 Star(12), although records suggest this was awarded for militia service in other theatres of war specified in Appendix A to Admiralty Order 4045 of 1918 and Appendix A to Military Order 117 of 1919(13), rather than Gallipoli, as the Fortress Engineers were not deployed there(14).
On 14(15) or 15(16) January 1916, Albert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, receiving the service number 19234(17). Initially posted to the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column (6th Reinforcements), he was soon transferred to the 7th Field Artillery Brigade as a Gunner on 1 April 1916(18). He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Argyllshire (A8)(19) on 11 May 1916, bound for England(20).
Just three days into the voyage, Albert contracted influenza and bronchitis(21). This illness aggravated an underlying condition of hemiplegia(22) (partial paralysis affecting his left side), leaving him gradually losing use of his left arm and leg beginning about 18 July 1916(23). On arrival in England, he was admitted first to Devonport General Hospital, and later to Harefield General Hospital(24), both used extensively for treating Australian soldiers. His condition did not improve, and on 9 September 1916 he was returned to Australia aboard the hospital ship Kanowna from Southampton(25). He arrived home on the last day of October(26) and was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick(27), where he remained until his discharge from the AIF on 13 April 1917(28), medically unfit for further service.
Despite his serious illness, Albert attempted to re-enlist in mid-April 1917(29), but was rejected on medical grounds. He spent his final months in and out of hospital as his condition worsened. On 18 January 1918, at just 22 years of age, he died at the 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick, from primarily, disseminated sclerosis, and secondarily, hypostatic pneumonia(30). His death was announced in Sunday Times on 20 January 1918(31) and The Daily Telegraph on 21 January 1918(32) and was buried at Randwick General Cemetery the same day(33), with the epitaph “For His Country”(34). His death was officially determined to have been the result of his active service(35).
He is commemorated at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour(37), the Randwick War Memorial(38), Chippendale Substation Staff NSW Govt. Tramways Honour Roll, Haymarket Substation Staff of NSW Government Tramways Roll of Honour, and on the honour board of Sydney Technical High School(39).
Endnotes
1. Hannah Lister Binns, Find a Grave, findagrave.com
2. Ken Stevenson, Sydney Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 for Albert Binns, WW1 Honour Board Soldier Files, Research on Google Drive
3. Biography, Albert Binns, Virtual War Memorial Australia
4. Ken Stevenson, Sydney Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 for Albert Binns, WW1 Honour Board Soldier Files, Research on Google Drive
5. Pg. 2, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
6. Ken Stevenson, Sydney Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 for Albert Binns, WW1 Honour Board Soldier Files, Research on Google Drive
7. Page 4, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
8. Biography, Albert Binns, Virtual War Memorial Australia
9. Biography, Albert Binns, Virtual War Memorial Australia
10. Charles Arthur Binns, Find a Grave, findagrave.com
11. Pg. 2, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
12. Pg. 68, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
13. 1914-1915 Star, Australian Government Defence
14. Gallipoli Campaign, Anzac Portal
15. Pg 47, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
16. Pg. 2, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
17. Pg. 2, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
18. Pg. 5, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
19. Pg. 14, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
20. Pg. 5, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
21. Section 11, ‘Medical Report on an Invalid’, Pg. 10, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
22. Biography, Albert Binns, Virtual War Memorial Australia
23. Pg. 47, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
24. Pg. 61, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
25. Pg. 36, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
26. Pg. 14, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
27. Pg. 25, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
28. Pg. 54, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
29. Biography, Albert Binns, Virtual War Memorial Australia
30. Pg. 31, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
31. Funerals, Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930) / Sun 20 Jan 1918 / Page 4 / Family Notices, Trove
32. Deaths, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930) / Mon 21 Jan 1918 / Page 4 / Family Notices, Trove
33. Funerals, Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930) / Sun 20 Jan 1918 / Page 4 / Family Notices, Trove
34. Albert Binns, Find a Grave, findagrave.com
35. Pg. 30, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
36. Pg. 68, NAA: B2455, Albert Binns, National Archives of Australia
37. Albert Binns, First World War Embarkation Roll, Australian War Memorial
38. Randwick, Virtual War Memorial Australia
39. Memorials, Personal Details, Albert Binns, Virtual War Memorial Australia
N.B.
Page numbers are based on the file pages, not the document page numbers, and the person who wrote the biography on the Virtual War Memorial Australia has some inaccuracies which are discussed in PS.