Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Algernon William Claude Lammey was a natural born British Subject who was a part of the Australian Imperial Force in World War One. Prior to his departure to the war he was a labourer living in Norwood who followed the Methodist religion. As he was not married, his next of kin were his parents, William and Elizabeth Lammey. He first enlisted in the War when he was 33 years and 7 months old on the 25th of February, 1915 in Liverpool, New South Wales. However within just over a month, he was discharged for disobeying an order on the 29th of March, 1915. Then approximately a year and a half later, on the 13th of October, 1916, he re-enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia at the age of 35 years and 7 months. On his forms, there seemed to be a continuity error when describing his personal details as his first enlistment forms said he had blue eyes but the forms from a year and a half later claimed they were brown. He never mentioned his prior enlistment or the fact that he had been discharged.

After enlisting, he began training at Mitcham Army Camp, South Australia with the 2nd Depot Battalion. On the 1st of March, 1917, it was recorded that he was a Private, the lowest military rank, in the 32nd Battalion, 13th reinforcements. After a few more months of training, he embarked on the HMAT 30 on the 23rd of June, 1917, in Adelaide, South Australia and disembarked in Plymouth, United Kingdom on the 25th of August, 1917. On arrival at Hurdcott Military Camp, he was allocated to the 8th Infantry Battalion. On the 28th of January 1918, the military records stated that he was transferred as reinforcement for the 48th Battalion and proceeded overseas to France.

The uniform worn by the 48th Battalion consisted of a Great Coat rolled beneath a single shoulder strap bag (haversack) and puttees, a cloth that wrapped around the soldier’s legs to provide support in battles. In the haversack, they carried a water bottle and five grenades using Lewis guns as their weapons. Records show that on the 28th of March, 1918, he was wounded in action with a general shrapnel wound to the face whilst fighting in Millencourt, France. He was admitted to the Horton (County of London) War Hospital on the 3rd of April, 1918. On his recovery, he returned to his military career.  Leaving on the 17th of July, 1918, he returned overseas to Deverill, France to resume fighting.

The medical report for September 1918 stated he was, “satisfactory with minimal sickness”. The facilities the soldiers were given were poor with the battalion only bathing and receiving a change of clothes twice. On the 18th of September, 1918, he fought in the Battle of Epehy which was an attempt for the Allies to breach the German Hindenburg Line. This was the last battle the 48th battalion would participate in for World War One. He was wounded in action once again with a severe shrapnel wound to the right eye.  Private Lammey was sent to the 4th London General Hospital where it was recorded that the eye was excised (removed). On the 1st of April, 1919, he embarked on his return to Australia on the HMAT Shropshire arriving on the 13th of May, 1919. After he had fully recovered from his second injury, on the 12th of July, 1919, he was discharged.

He was issued a British War Medal (Campaign Medal) and the Allied Victory Medal on the 4th of February, 1919. These medals were awarded to the Australian soldiers by Great Britain for their participation and success in the war.

The ANZAC acronym stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. After joining together, in 1915 the Australian and New Zealand forces landed at Gallipoli in Turkey in an attempt to quickly bring the war to an end. Unfortunately, the campaign continued for eight months and did not go well with both countries suffering heavy losses and great hardships. This was the first experience these countries had fighting together and their actions became legendary.

ANZAC Spirit is defined as possessing endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship. Even after Private Lammey was wounded in March, 1918, he returned to the front line in September of the same year, to continue fighting the war for his country. This shows his strength and endurance to continue despite his past injury and how it may have affected him personally. He was prepared to go back to fight side-by-side with his fellow Diggers. His spirit was also reflected in the fact that he was initially discharged for disobeying an order, but then one and a half years later he decided to re-enlist to fight for his country and freedom. Although he also showed a more defiant side of being an ANZAC. The larrikin in him and many other ANZAC soldiers was shown on a couple of occasions when he was reprimanded for being A.W.L (Absent Without Leave). He was consequently docked several days’ pay as punishment for his misbehaviour.

These soldiers’ commitment and dedication to the cause helped the Allies eventually win the war and formed a strong bond of mateship and friendship between countries that is still spoken of today and commemorated on the 25th April each year.