Albert Painter, 25 Btn AIF (KIA 10/06/1918)

[bts1970]

Hi

One of the lads i have been researching.

I would be gratefull to see if anyone could provide map scans etc to cover the area that the lads advanced for the date of his death and the sunken road etc mentioned as to his place of burial.Like so many others he was buried in a marked grave at the time but as time passed his burial location was lost.

Best regards

Bob Lloyd

PAINTER, Sgt Albert.

Enlisted: (Australian Imperial Force) 01/02/1915. Enoggera, Queensland.

Age given: 23 years, born Purton 25/01/1892.

Occupation: Station Hand. Albert emigrated to Australia in 1913.

MIC details / Medal entitlement.

British War Medal, Victory Medal, 15 Star.

Extracts from: Extracts from: Service record (Australian).

954 D company, 25th Battalion AIF.

29/06/1915 Embarked in Brisbane for overseas Service, HMAT Aeneas.

04/09/1915 Embarked Alexandria from M.S.F. (Gallipoli).

07/09/1915 Arrived at lemons, port of Mudros.

10/09/1915 Arrived at ANZAC.

09/01/1916 Disembarked Alexandria ex Mudros (post withdrawal from Gallipoli).

19/03/1916 Arrived Marseille to join BEF. The 25th Battalion was the first AIF unit to arrive in France, part of the 2nd Division.

03/04/1916 Awarded 3 days Field Punishment No2, the offence “being a soldier found beyond the limits fixed by

orders”.

29/07/1916 Gunshot wound (GSW) buttock (severe). The Battalion was involved with a Battle at Pozieres from the 25th July.

13/08/1916 Transferred to England via Dieppe.

05/10/1916 Discharged from 1/5th NG Hospital to Port Down.

19/11/1916 Folkstone.

20/11/1916 Arrived at Base.

02/12/1916 Proceed to rejoin unit.

03/12/1916 Rejoined Battalion who were resting at Vignacourt.

01/05/1917 Promoted Lance Corporal.

13/05/1917 Promoted Corporal.

13/07/1917 Promoted Sergeant.

30/07/1917 7th Training Battalion England (Rollerstione).

15/11/1917 Southampton.

22/11/1917 Rejoined Battalion (France).

07/01/1918 England on leave, returned to France 24/01/1918.

09/05/1918 7th Field Ambulance sick.

10/05/1918 Transferred to Ambulance train, Rouen.

13/05/1918 Transferred to C Depot, Rouen.

28/05/1918 Rejoined Battalion.

10/06/1918 The Third Battle of Morlancourt, the Battalion attacked German positions. The objective is to capture enemy positions between Sailly-Laurette and Morlancourt, D Company positioned on the left of the assault. Considerable machine gun fire was experienced as soon as they advanced; casualties recorded were 42 killed, 156 injured and 8 missing.

Eyewitness statement taken from Sgt Rupert Hill, D Coy 16th Battalion.

I was in the action (Which was really only a small stunt) in which Sgt A Painter was killed. It was at Village Bretoneu June 10/18. Painter was hit by a bullet, time dusk; I was in the same Company and not far off when it happened. I saw him dead, Painter and others were buried where they fell. Painter’s rifle was stuck up over his grave, know nothing of his disc, papers or anything else. We were holding on. Description; About 25, red hair, clean shaven about 5 ft 6. Parents I

believe live in England.

Eyewitness statement taken from Cpl Anderson.

At Ville St Ancre in front of there in a bit of a cemetery he was buried, I was present at funeral, small cross put up there.

Eyewitness statement taken from Dowling, B Coy 25th Battalion.

He was in D Coy. Were at Morlancourt, 10th June, and doing a hop over, when I saw him killed instantly by a piece of shell. I helped to dig a grave and we buried him there in a sunken road. A cross with full particulars was erected. He was 24-25 years old, 5 ft 8 – 9 in height, 12 stone, and ginger complexion.

Eyewitness statement taken from Capt Foxton, 25th Battalion.

It was currently reported in the Battalion that Painter was killed by machine gun fire about 8.0 pm whilst rushing a machine gun during attack on the date above. It was about 100 yards to the right of the Bray – Corbie road, near Morlancourt. Lieut Kirk of the 25th Battalion buried him and would be able to point out the exact position of the grave (Capt Foxton was blinded so could not show the position himself). Death was instantaneous.

Eyewitness statement taken from Lieut Kirk.

I saw him killed on the 10th June 1918. He was killed by machine gun bullet during an attack on the right of Morlancourt. He was buried the same evening where he fell not in a cemetery. The grave was marked in the usual way.

Death / Burial / Memorial details.

Killed in action aged 26 on the 10th June 1918. Australian archives record his burial as being near Morlancourt, details record that he was buried at 62D K.19665.00 by D.B.O 2nd Australian Division. Albert has no known grave, remembered on VILLERS-BRETONNEUX Memorial, France. Albert is also named on Swindon’s Roll of Honour.

13/07/1918 The Queenslander newspaper reports Albert’s death in its Roll of Honour list No 414.

12/01/1919 Letter from Thirza painter to Vera Deakon. She writes of receiving letters from a lad in Albert’s platoon as well as Capt Foxton. She also writes in regard to tracing his grave as she has read in the papers about the bodies being moved (Battlefield clearance and burial details)

11/10/1923 Albert’s mother Thirza wrote a letter to the Australian Red Cross. She was enquiring as to whether the Red Cross could supply details for a burial site and if possible a photo of the plot. Unfortunately like so many others Albert lies somewhere in France without a known burial site.

Evidence for inclusion on the Purton Parish list: Service record (Australian). Albert’s name was originally missing from the CWGC online listing; this has now been highlighted and rectified.

[Chris Henschke]

"07/09/1915 Arrived at lemons, port of Mudros."

Should read Lemnos, not lemons.

[bts1970]

Can anyone provide a map scan of the location stated in his service record?

Death / Burial / Memorial details.

Killed in action aged 26 on the 10th June 1918. Australian archives record his burial as being near Morlancourt, details record that he was buried at 62D K.19665.00 by D.B.O 2nd Australian Division. Albert has no known grave, remembered on VILLERS-BRETONNEUX Memorial, France.

If no luck here i will re-post in the map request sub forum.

Bets regards

Bob

[bts1970]

This thread has been moved to a more appropriate location. Many thanks for looking.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=162199&view=findpost&p=1574581&hl=&fromsearch=1

Bob