Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Cyril Sommerville, was born at Hindmarsh on January 21, 1887, and is a son of the late William S. Sommerville, who by occupation was a warehouseman. His brother, Lieutenant J. R. Sommerville, of the 27th Battalion A.I.F., was killed in action in France during the Great War. At the outbreak of the war he was residing with his mother at Croydon, and was employed as a salesman by Colton, Palmer & Preston Ltd. He was educated at the Hindmarsh Public School, and in 1910 commenced his military career as a private in the old 10th Australian Infantry Regiment, and subsequently held the rank of corporal, and later sergeant. He was eventually transferred to the 7th Company of the Australian Signalling Corps. On December 9, 1912, he received his first commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the 78th (Adelaide Rifles) Infantry, and later commanded the Regimental Signallers of that unit, holding this commission at the time of joining the A.I.F. He was appointed a 2nd lieutenant in the 10th Battalion at Morphettville on August 19, 1914, and was posted to original "E" Company. He embarked with the original Battalion on H.M.A.T. A11 Ascanius on October 20, 1914, and proceeded to Egypt. At Mena, in January, 1915, when his company merged with the original "C" Company and became the new "B" Company, he was appointed a Platoon Commander in same and promoted to rank of lieutenant on February 1, 1915. He subsequently re-embarked with the Battalion on the Ionian for the Dardanelles, and landed with his company from the Prince of Wales at the historic landing on April 25, 1915. About 12.30 p.m. that day, upon reaching the 2nd Ridge, where the fighting was severe, he sustained a shrapnel injury to his left side, and was forced to evacuate. He remained in the firing-line until about 8 p.m. that night, when he was carried out and transferred to a destroyer. Under these distressing circumstances he remained for seven and a half hours in the thick of the fighting, until the conditions of nightfall permitted of his removal. He subsequently proceeded to Alexandria, where he was admitted to the Deaconess Hospital. Later he embarked on the hospital ship Kyarra for Australia, being the first South Australian officer who had been in action at the Dardanelles to return to Adelaide. The Kyarra made a direct run from the Suez to Melbourne, there being fourteen N.C.O.'s and men of the 10th on board, this quota arriving in Adelaide on July 18, 1915. At first he confidently anticipated that his wound would not prevent him from rejoining the Battalion, but his best hopes were not realized, for he was eventually fitted with a surgical appliance, which he still wears. His services with the A.I.F. terminated on March 31, 1916, and on September 29, 1918, he married Constance Jean, daughter of the late T. I. Loutit, and sister of N. M. Loutit, who embarked with the original Battalion as a 2nd lieutenant. There is one daughter of the union. Returning to civil life, he commenced duties as Staff Officer in connection with the embarkation of A.I.F. troops, and in this capacity was stationed at Keswick Headquarters. He subsequently became a clerk in the Repatriation Commission as and from April 8, 1918, and retained this position until June 30, 1923. On July 9, 1923, he returned to Colton, Palmer & Preston Ltd. as a suburban traveller, but relinquished same on July 13, 1929. Since then he has followed various business pursuits. During his absence from Australia he was promoted to the rank lieutenant in the 78th (Adelaide Rifles) Infantry on July 1, 1915. On October 1, 1918, he was appointed a lieutenant in the 2/10 Infantry, and on October 1, 1920, was transferred to the Reserve of Officers with the same rank. Upon his return to Adelaide from Egypt he refused to be interviewed by a representative of The Register, declining publicity, and also at the time did not feel equal to the task of relating his experiences. In August, 1914, an amusing inaccuracy occurred when an Adelaide daily paper published his photograph above the name of "Lieut. D. L. Todd," and after the Battalion embarked on the Ascanius a pictorial publication was issued by The Advertiser giving the names of rank and file of the 10th Battalion, and his was the only officer's name omitted. At a meeting of the Hindmarsh Council on July 19, 1915, the Mayor of Hindmarsh (Mr. W. Wood) said it was a remarkable thing that the first wounded officer to arrive home resided in the Hindmarsh municipality. To Lieut. Sommerville he extended a hearty welcome home, and on behalf of the council expressed the hope that he soon would be sufficiently restored to normal health to return to the firing-line. The Town Clerk of Hindmarsh was instructed to convey these sentiments of him by letter. He is a member of the Payhem Masonic Lodge, No. 87, S.A.C., and in 1935 was residing at No. 9, Coolibah Avenue, Kensington Gardens.

From Lock “The Fighting Tenth”

Lieutenant Alfred Cyril Sommerville, a platoon commander with ‘B’ Company, landed unscathed from the Prince of Wales but by midday, after reaching Second Ridge where the fighting was severe, he sustained a shrapnel wound to his left side. Despite being in a great deal of pain he remained in the firing line until 8 pm he was carried out and evacuated to a ship. Under these distressing circumstances Sommerville had remained at his post for almost eight hours and yet he survived. He like many others wounded on the first day, later requested permission to return to the AIF but his wounds did not heal well. He was fitted with a prosthesis which, of course, dashed forever his wish to continue soldiering with his mates.

This narrative is a compilation of work by Bill Denny, AM Veterans SA, and Bob Kearney (extract from his book "Silent Voices")