FULLERTON, Samson Donald
| Service Number: | 5375 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mulwala, New South Wales, Australia, 1898 |
| Home Town: | Mulwala, Corowa Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Mulwala Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway porter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 23 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Corowa War Memorial, Mulwala War Memorial, Yarrawonga War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5375, 5th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 5375, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 5375, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 23 Aug 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 5375, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5375 awm_unit: 5 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-08-23 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Tungamah and Lake Rowan Express and St. James Gazette 22 March 1917. SOLDIERS' LETTERS.
Mrs. Fullerton, Mulwala, has received the following letter from her son (Pte. S. D. Fullerton), who left Australia in July last year:
.....We were here nearly a fortnight, and then we went back to the trenches, this time reaching the front lines — the first time we only reached reserves. We put 4 days and nights in the front line and went through some misery. There were no dugouts to sleep in, and we could not make any for as soon as we started to dig, they would all fall in, often on top of someone; then we would have to dig him out. Then rain came, and on top of that snow. The trenches filled up to our knees in mud and I can tell you we were in a fine mess. We not only had to put up with this, but Fritz was shelling us as well. What with wounded and men going away sick we had a number of casualties. We went to the front line on 10th December and came out on the 14th. But when I came out I could hardly walk and my feet were nearly bursting in my boots; but I managed to get to our destination, and 5 of us were put in a dug-out for the night, but when I took my boots off my feet were swollen and sore and I slept little. In the morning I could not get out for my feet were too sore. The doctor came round but did not see me, as it was too dark; so, I had another day of misery. Anyhow the next day he came and saw me and I was taken to a dressing station and had my feet dressed and sent away to Le Treport (France), and from there to Le Havre and on to England. Continually being wet-footed and not being able to keep the blood circulating, caused trench feet, but not seriously.