RADCLIFFE, Alan Arthur
| Service Number: | 854 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 August 1914, Enlisted at Toowoomba, QLD |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 9th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Toowoomba, Queensland, 1889 |
| Home Town: | Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Brisbane Grammar School, Queensland |
| Occupation: | Business Manager |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 25 April 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC Row M, Grave 14 Headstone inscription reads: Our dear son who lost his life to find it, Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane Grammar School Memorial Library WW1 Honour Board 2, Corinda Sherwood Shire Roll of Honor, Gracemere Roll of Honour, Graceville War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 854, Enlisted at Toowoomba, QLD | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 1914: | Involvement Private, 854, 9th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Omrah embarkation_ship_number: A5 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Sep 1914: | Embarked Private, 854, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Omrah, Brisbane |
Help us honour Alan Arthur Radcliffe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Alan Radcliffe was born in Toowoomba where his father was a school headmaster. Alan’s father, Oliver Radcliffe, gained promotion to be an Inspector of Schools in the Department of Public Instruction (now Education Department). By the time Alan and his brothers were ready to attend Brisbane Grammar, the family had settled at “Kaloma”, Graceville.
When Alan enlisted in Rockhampton he was employed as a business manager with the firm of Flavelle, Roberts and Sankey. At enlistment on 28th August 1914, he reported that he was 24 years old and had several years experience with the military cadets. Alan was drafted into “C” Company of the 9th Battalion which was being raised at Enoggera. “C” Company was comprised almost exclusively of men who had rushed to enlist from the Central Queensland area.
Alan embarked on the “Omrah” at Pinkenba Wharf on 24th September 1914 and after delays in Sydney owing to the likelihood of German raiders in the western Pacific, proceeded on to Albany where the huge fleet of Australian and New Zealand recruits assembled. The first division of the AIF were originally bound for the western front but while at sea, Turkey entered the war and the Australians were diverted to Egypt to protect the vital Suez Canal.
After a period of training in Egypt, the 9th Battalion as part of the 3rd Brigade arrived at Mudros Harbour on the Greek island of Lemnos where they practiced boat drills and landings. The third brigade had been chosen by Birdwood to be the covering force (first ashore) during the landings at Gallipoli on the 25th April with the 9th Battalion on the far right.
The confusion that occurred on the beach as troops began to land and push up into the ravines that dominated the landscape has been well documented. It is certain that small parties of Australians were able to push on to the heights which dominated the peninsula. It is also certain that most of these isolated groups were overrun by Turkish counter attack and the men perished. Later evidence would suggest that Alan Radcliffe was among one such party.
When the 9th Battalion could be assembled at Gallipoli for a roll call after that first day, many men had been killed, wounded or were missing. Among those listed as missing was Alan Radcliffe. His father when informed of the uncertainty of his son’s situation wrote constantly to the authorities requesting news. He even wrote that he had received word from a returned 9th Battalion man that his son was a prisoner at Constantinople. Base Records advised that lists of POWs were being collated by the American Ambassador (the US at this time being a neutral) but unfortunately Alan Radcliffe was not listed as a POW.
It was not until 5th June 1916, while the 9th Battalion was in France that a Court of Inquiry determined that Alan Radcliffe had been killed in action. In February 1918, almost three years after Alan went missing, Oliver Radcliffe received a parcel with his son’s personal belongings which included some books, letters, photos and cards.
In 1922, after Oliver Radcliffe had received Alan’s medals, he also received an identity disc which had been recovered with the remains of Alan Radcliffe by the Graves Registration Unit at Gallipoli. In all likelihood, Alan had been killed well beyond the Turkish lines and had been buried by the Turks in 1915. His remains were exhumed and reinterred at the Lone Pine Cemetery.
Alan Radcliffe’s three brothers also enlisted. Phillip and Charles, who were both school teachers were both discharged as medically unfit. Phillip had sustained serious wounds at Polygon Wood and Charles was discharged from Enoggera due to illness. Alan’s youngest brother John was in England on a Rhodes Scholarship when war was declared. He gained a commission in the Royal Horse Artillery and was awarded a Military Cross. John returned to Australia in 1919. All of the Radcliffe boys are commemorated in the Brisbane Grammar Golden Book along with their cousin Leslie Radcliffe (see above).
Courtesy of Ian Lang
Mango Hill
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Oliver and Jessie Wilson Radcliffe of Graveville, QLD. Brother of Phillip Walker Radcliffe who returned to Australia on 5 April 1918 having served with the 31st Battalion
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Also served in the Brisbane Grammar School Cadets and Rifle Club
Was Business Manager while with Flavelle Roberts and Sankey of Rockhampton
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