CAMERON, Alexander John
| Other Name: | Cameron, Alexander - Service Record |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | 16254 |
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Benalla, Victoria, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Trainee engineman |
| Died: | Influenza, Grove Military Hospital, Tooting, London, England , 12 November 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Lake Rowan War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Nov 1916: | Involvement Driver, 16254, Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1916: | Embarked Driver, 16254, Field Company Engineers, HMAT Suevic, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Bpard
Alexander CAMERON, (Service Number 16254) was born in 1893 in Benalla, Victoria. He joined the NSWGR as an engine cleaner at Eveleigh in July 1914. In February 1916 he was transferred to Richmond. In October 1916, after medical examination at Victoria Barracks in August, he enlisted in the AIF in Sydney, and was allotted to reinforcements for the Engineers as a Driver.
He embarked from Sydney in November 1916 and landed in England in January 1917. He was sent to France a year later. However, in both 1917 and 1918, he spent some time having medical treatment for venereal disease. In January 1919 he was returned to England. In March was attached for duty to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford.
He died on 12 November 1919 of Influenza, at Grove Military Hospital, Tooting, London. He was buried in Australian Military Burial Ground, Brookwood, with a full military funeral, of which a detailed report was sent to his next of kin in Australia.
Submitted 16 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 12th November…… Alexander Cameron was born at Lake Rowan, Victoria in 1893.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 3rd October, 1916 as a 23 year old, single, Engine Cleaner from Sydney, NSW.
On 3rd October, 1916 Alexander Cameron was posted to Royal Agricultural Show Grounds, Moore Park, Sydney, NSW for recruit training. He was transferred to Engineers Reinforcements, Engineer Depot, Moore Park on 6th October, 1916 as Driver.
Driver Alexander Cameron, Service number 16254, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 11th November, 1916 with the Field Company Engineers - November Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 30th January, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was marched in to Australian Details, Nos 6 & 7 Camps, Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 30th January, 1917 from Australia.
On 27th February, 1917 Driver Cameron reported sick. He was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire on 27th February, 1917 with V.D. – later amended to read “Non venereal.” Driver Cameron was discharged to Depot on 21st April, 1917 & was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 24th April, 1917. He was marched in to Details at Parkhouse, Wiltshire on 4th May, 1917.
Driver Cameron was marched in to Engineers Training Depot at Brightlingsea, England on 5th July, 1917.
He proceeded overseas to France on 31st January, 1918 from Brightlingsea & was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Rouelles, France on 1st February, 1918. Driver Cameron was marched out from A.G.B.D. to Engineers on 5th February, 1918 & was taken on strength of 7th Field Company Engineers in Belgium on 9th February, 1918.
Driver Alexander Cameron was reported to be with his Unit on 10th August, 1918 (This was usually recorded when there had been no movements recorded on a soldier’s Casualty Form – Active Service for a period of time).
On 29th October, 1918 Driver Cameron reported sick. He was admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance in France on 29th October, 1918 with Gonorrhoea. Driver Cameron was transferred to Casualty Clearing Station then transferred & admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville on 29th October, 1918 with V.D.G. He was transferred & admitted to 39th General Hospital at Havre, France on 30th October, 1918 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). Driver Cameron was discharged to Base Depot on 4th December, 1918 & was marched in to A.G.B.D. on 4th December, 1918. (Total Period 37 days)
He reported sick on 10th December, 1918 & was admitted again to 39th General Hospital at Havre with V.D. He was transferred to England on 9th January, 1919.
Driver Cameron was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire, England on 9th January, 1919. He was discharged on 1st March, 1919. Total V.D. period – 82 days (Admitted to 39th G.H. 10.12.18; transferred to England 10.1.19)
On 1st March, 1919 Driver Cameron was attached for duty to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford.
He was written up for an Offence at Bulford on 11th May, 1919 – AWL (absent without Leave) from 23.59 on 10th May, 1919 to 23.00 on 11st May, 1919. Award – Admonished by Colonel J. M. Stewart on 13th May, 1919 & forfeited a total of 1 days pay.
Driver Cameron was written up for an Offence at Bulford on 20th August, 1919 – AWL from 0900 on 20th August, 1919 to 23.59 on 22nd August, 1919. He was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 by Colonel J. M. Stewart & forfeited a total of 6 days pay.
On 8th September, 1919 Driver Cameron was written up for an Offence at Bulford – Being in bed at 7.30 am contrary to Orders. He was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 by Colonel J. M. Stewart & forfeited a total of 3 days pay.
He was marched in to No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 1st October, 1919 from Bulford Hospital.
Driver Alexander Cameron was sent sick to Grove Military Hospital, Tooting, London, England on 10th November, 1919 (As per Casualty Form – Active Service, however, the Hospital Admissions form recorded he was admitted on 8th November, 1919)
Driver Alexander Cameron died at 9.15 pm (as per Medical Case Sheet, however the “Morning State of Sick” (Army form A.27) recorded he died at 20.40) on 12th November, 1919 at Grove Military Hospital, Tooting, London, England from Influenza.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c.html
Click images to start slideshow.