Harold BURCHELL

BURCHELL, Harold

Service Number: 8773
Enlisted: 1 November 1915, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 5th Field Artillery Brigade
Born: Marryatville, South Australia, 30 December 1886
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Norwood Public School; St Paul's Pultneney Street Chruch School & School of Mines
Occupation: Fitter & Turner (S.A.R.)
Died: Died of Illness, (gas poisoning & pneumonia), Abbeville, France, 19 October 1918, aged 31 years
Cemetery: Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension
Plot IV, Row H, Grave No. 20,
Memorials: Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

1 Nov 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8773, Melbourne, Victoria
16 Nov 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 8773, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1,

--- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Macquarie embarkation_ship_number: A39 public_note: ''

16 Nov 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 8773, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, HMAT Port Macquarie, Melbourne
19 Oct 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 8773, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , "The Last Hundred Days",

--- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 8773 awm_unit: 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-10-19

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Biography

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

"8773 Corporal Harold Burchell, 5th Field Artillery Brigade. A fitter and turner from Adelaide, South Australia prior to enlistment as a Private (Pte) in the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column on 6 November 1915, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Port Macquarie on 16 November 1915 for Egypt. Pte Burchell was transferred to the 22nd Howitzer Brigade on 11 March 1916 which relocated to the Western Front, France later that month. He was transferred to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade on 13 May 1916. Pte Burchell was appointed T/Cpl on 19 December 1917 and promoted to Cpl on 19 March 1918. Cpl Burchell was wounded in action in a gas attack on 8 October 1918 and died of gas poisoning (pneumonia) in 2nd Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, France, on 19 October 1918. He was aged 32 years." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"Personal Notes.

Ex-Inspector Burchell, of Gilbert street, Adelaide, has received a letter from his son, Pte. Harold Burchell, of the Engineers, who has been attached to the artillery in France and Belgium for two years, in which the writer says:—Three or four cousins are fighting somewhere near me; — (his brother-in-law) is at present on home duty in England; Cousin — has been killed, and Cousin — is severely wounded (now in Keswick Hospital), while Edward (Burchell) is on his way to Australia invalided. Mr. Burchell yesterday received a cablegram from his son conveying Christmas greetings. The message was lodged on December 26." - from the Adelaide Observer 26 Jan 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"LATE CPL. H. BURCHELL.

Mr. A. Burchell, of Gilbert street, Adelaide, who was long and honourably associated with the South Australian police force, of which he is an ex-inspector, has received news that his son, Cpl. Harold Burchell, was gassed in France on October 9, and died from pneumonia 10 days later. The deceased soldier was connected with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, and was highly respected among many friends." - from the Adelaide Register 29 Oct 1918 (nla.gov.au)

 

 

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