Australian infantry AIF

[lion]

I have a relitive who served in the australian infantry he died on the 10/08/1918

can I find out where in france he was on that date he is buried in HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES

[Terry Denham]

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you give us some more information so that we can help - his name etc?

[lion]

His name is Frederick Cook Sweeney

Rank Private

Unit Austrailian Infantry , A I F 11th Bn

Service No 3471

thank you for your help

[robbie]

Hi Lion,

is this him?

http://www.awm.gov.au/

Sweeney, Frederick Cook

Number: 3471

Rank: Private [Pte]

Unit: 11th Bn Australian Inf

Service: Army

Conflict: 1914-1918

Date of Death: 10/08/1918

Place of Death:

Cause of Death: Killed in action

Memorial Panel: 64

Cemetery or Memorial Details: FRANCE 526 Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres

Next Of Kin:

Place Of Enlistment: Perth, WA

Native Place:

Notes: SWEENEY, Pte. Frederick Cook, 3471. 11th Bn. Australian Inf. Killed in action 10th Aug., 1918. Age 31. Son of Patrick Joseph and Margaret Anne Sweeney; husband of Florence Maud Sweeney, of 40, Wasley St., North Perth, Western Australia. Born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. VII. E. 15.

Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Robbie

[Blackblue]

Lion,

There is plenty on the Australian War Memorial site.

His entry in the Nominal Roll appears here.

http://www.awm.gov.au/database/133/page.as...Surname=sweeney

His entry in the Embarkation Rolls appears here on page 21 with the 11th reinforcements of the 11th Battalion.

http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm8/23_2...pdf/229-260.pdf

You can view of Roll of Honour Card here which has details of his NOK etc. They were completed by relatives of those who died after the war.

http://www.awm.gov.au/database/roh.asp

You can view his Red Cross File here. The Red Cross conducted inquiries in respect the cause of death of many men in the AIF on behalf of relatives and friends. In this case all that is included is his burial location.

http://www.awm.gov.au/database/1drl428.asp

The 11th Battalion was a Western Australian battalion and your man was born in the UK but was living in North Perth when he enlisted.

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11198.asp

Your man was killed in the Battle of Amiens near Lihons. This was the battle that essentially broke the back of the German army and led to the end of the war.

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/event_74.asp

For a description of what the 11th Battalion were doing on the day he was killed you can consult the official history. The account of the 11th Battalions operations on this day commences at about Page 653.

http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/ww1/6/index.asp

There is also a history of the 11th Battalion named 'Legs Eleven' which may give some information. I can't find mine at the moment but Andrew P who uses this forum is from WA and has a copy.

His service papers should be available at the National Archives. I suggest you send a request for them at the following link. A search of the records available does not list him but they may have a copy.

http://www.naa.gov.au/the_collection/defen...ts/ww1/ww1.html

Rgds

Tim D

[Blackblue]

What Robbie posted is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site.

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/casualty_...casualty=560285

A description of his cemetary is included here:

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/cemetery_...ry=62000&mode=1

Rgds

Tim D

[Auimfo]

He rests very near my Great Uncle, Pte Victor HILL, 22nd Battalion. Killed in action at Herleville eight days after your relative on the 18/8/18 and is also buried at Heath Cemetery Grave ref IV.E.5.

Tim L.

[lion]

May I thank all of you for the replies and work you have done on my behalf

I shall hold this site in case I need to know any more

Thank You All Once Again

Lion

[lion]

I have tried several of the sites that was on the list but all I get is a blank page I did download acrobat reader but I still cant get any thing can any one help please Lion

[Auimfo]

Lion,

I checked the links the others have provided and they seem to work fine for me. Once you've downloaded Acrobat Reader, check it's been installed correctly and that it's the latest version.

I have noticed that sometimes Acrobat can be fairly slow to open the document so perhaps give it a little more time to process the page.

Other than that I can't think of a particular reason why it won't open.

Tim L.

[Andrew P]

The 11th Batt had very heavy casualties that day. Many of the original Gallipoli fellows met their end here. I'll have a look what the battalion history has to say.

[Andrew P]

From 'Legs Eleven' The 11th Battalion History by Captain Walter Belford.

"The jumping off line was not as far ahead as the operation order indicated, or rather the troops holding the line were not so far forward as supposed, and long before they reached their jumping off mark the 11th Battalion boys were met by a deadly and well sustained machine gun fire. On they dashed and into the maze of trenches, and an almost hand to hand battle took place. Many on both sides were shot through the head at close range. A battery of German 4.2 guns that had been firing at close quarters was rushed and captured by D Company. Several prisoners were taken belonging to the 19th Bavarian Regiment. The troops pressed on. Officers and men went down, but the advance was on the finest in the history of the battalion. Rifle and machine gun fire from the flanks and from the front could not stop the charge. Captain Le Nay fell and with him the gallant Lt Jim Aitken, who had been at the landing at Anzac and most of the big stunts since that day. Lt George Lamerton was killed, and Lieuts Gemmell, Black & Sharp and many good NCO’s and men gave their lives in this attack. Lieut Harry Naylor was killed early in the action and five more officers were wounded, including Lieut M.E. (Dick) Clarke, who was shot through both eyes and had a frightful wound. The machine gun fire was intense. The 12th Battalion following 1000 yards behind suffered many casualties, including their C.O. (Lt-Col Elliott).

After a stiff resistance, the enemy was eventually pushed off the ridge at Auger Wood, and the troops under Captain Jack O’Neil followed up and penetrated to the further side of the wood where they took up a strong defensive position."