MAIN, Vivian Neville
| Service Number: | 6518 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Sandgate, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Magill, Campbelltown, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Fort Street Model Public School |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Warneton, Belgium, 25 December 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Prowse Point Cemetery, Belgium Plot III, Row B, Grave No. I |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Magill Honour Board, Magill War Memorial, The South Australian National War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6518, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6518, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 15 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 27 Infantry Battalion AMF, Given temporary leadership responsibilities during active service on the Western Front | |
| 1 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6518, 27 Infantry Battalion AMF, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East, saved in Belgium near Ploegstreert wood assisting with front- line operations and engineering work. |
Vivian Neville Main
Vivian Neville Main was the younger son of May Main “The Nook” Tranmere Terrace, Tranmere, South Australia and Mark Main, of 2 Virginia Flats, 77-79 McLeay Street, Potts Point, Sydney. He was born at Sandgate in Queensland in 1892. He sailed from Adelaide on the 24th January 1917, on board the HMAT Miltiades A28. He was promoted to acting Sergeant for the trip to Devonport UK. At various times he was promoted to acting roles in the army, acting Lance Corporal, acting Sergeant Etc. So he must have been well thought of and ready for promotion. On Christmas Day 1917, the Battalion was celebrating back at the camp in Romerin. Vivian Neville Main and a couple of others were asked to help 7th field engineers to replace 450 meters of barbed wire at the front line in Ploegsteert Wood. As they worked they were shelled, and four of them were killed. A pall was cast over the Battalion Christmas celebrations. They were all buried at Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Wallonie, Belgium, which was just down the road, and had been established during a major action in 1914. It is ironic that at this very spot on December 25th 1914, the war stopped for the day, and both opposing armies together, celebrated a Christmas truce.
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1953385/
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Saturday 12 January 1918 p 27
http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/ploegsteert/visiting-toronto-avenue-cemetery/winter-at-ploegsteert.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce
Submitted 28 March 2016 by Campbelltown Library Volunteers (Digital Diggers)
Biography contributed
Vivian Neville MAIN was born in Sandgate in Queensland in 1892
His parents were Mark & May MAIN
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His brother Eric Claude MAIN was Killed in Action in France on 3rd September, 1916 - 2nd Lieutenant with the 52nd Infantry Battalion
Biography contributed by Charles Campbell College
Vivian Neville Main was born in Sandgate, Queensland, in 1892 to parents Mark and May Main. Vivian and his family then moved to Sydney, New South Wales, where he attended Fort Street Model Public School. Vivian had at least one brother, Eric Claude Main, who served in World War I and died in combat. Vivian held down the job of Draper before joining the AIF.
Vivian joined the AIF on 18 March 1916 at the age of 24 years. His mother, Mrs May Main, was listed as next of kin and he identified as being part of the Church of England faith. The following description was found in his attestation form: height of around five feet eight inches, blue eyes, fair hair, and fair complexion. Vivian was physically fit to serve in the army and had no known medical conditions before leaving Australia. No record suggests he had attended cadet school or served with the Citizens’ Military Forces before joining the army.
Vivian was a Private in the 27th Infantry Battalion after completing his military training. On January 24, 1917, he boarded HMAT Miltiades and sailed to Europe, where he served during World War I. Vivian fought on the Western Front in Belgium. It was a highly perilous environment with soldiers facing cold weather, mud, heavy shelling, and machine gun fire. While serving in the war, Vivian exhibited responsibility and leadership, enabling him to be promoted to acting positions such as Lance Corporal and Acting Sergeant.
On Christmas Day 1917 (25 December), Vivian Neville Main met his demise during an attack near Ploegsteert Wood in Belgium. At that time, he was among the men who were assisting in mending the barbed-wire defence, which was subsequently hit by shellfire from the enemy.
Vivian is laid to rest at Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Belgium, among other brave men who fought and gave their lives for their country.
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