Lives of the First World War
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16th at Bullecourt, the POWs
16th at Bullecourt, the POWs
On the 11th of April 1917, Australian forces attacked a sector of the Hindenberg line between Bullecourt and Queant. The 16th Battalion A.I.F. was one of four Battalions of the 4th Brigade involved in the attack. The initial advance was successful with the Brigade taking it's 1st and 2nd objectives into the 2nd line German trenches albeit with many casualties. However the hold was tenuous, enfilading machine gun fire made resupply impossible and the attackers soon began to run out of ammunition. A succession of fierce counterattacks eventually drove the Australians back to their own lines, by this time 75% of the 16th were either wounded or dead. The 16th went into the fight with 20 officers and 797 other ranks, the battalion lost in this one day's fighting 17 officers and 623 other ranks, dead, wounded and prisoners of war. The losses in the 4th Brigade as a whole were similarly high, 79 officers and 2,260 other ranks. A large proportion of the 16th were captured at their objective Reincourt. This community highlights some of them.
Created by: , Fife3190
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Australian Imperial Force 6479 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Sydney Young Burnett -
Born 1874
Australian Imperial Force 6606 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Christen Eriksen -
Born 1881
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 6616 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about James Mcnamee -
Born 1897
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 5742 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 18th Reinforcements
More about Lionel Charles Martin -
Born 1898
Australian Imperial Force 6553 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Claude Robert Marsh -
Born 1892
Australian Imperial Force 6596 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Joseph Wallbank -
Born 1889
Australian Imperial Force 24 Private 16th Btn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. "C" Company
Australian Imperial Force 24 Corporal 16th Btn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Australian Imperial Force 24 Sergeant 16th Btn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
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More about John Patrick Courtney -
Born 1890
Australian Imperial Force 6358 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 20th Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6358 Corporal 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 20th Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6358 Acting Sergeant 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 20th Reinforcements
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More about Horace Rumble -
Born 1892
Australian Imperial Force 6476 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6476 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Alfred James Board -
Born 1878
Australian Imperial Force 6498 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6498 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Christopher Davidson -
Born 1875
Australian Imperial Force 6465 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6465 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about William Arthur Bradbury -
Born 1890
Australian Imperial Force W18576
Australian Imperial Force Private 20 Depot
Australian Imperial Force Sergeant 22 Depot
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More about James Harrold Watson -
Born 1884
Australian Imperial Force 6528 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6528 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Frederick Hehir -
Born 1895
Australian Imperial Force 6519 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6519 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Horatio Ganson -
Born 1892
Australian Imperial Force 6514 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6514 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Daniel Greenlees -
Born 1892
Australian Imperial Force 6578 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6578 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about John Smith -
Born 1884
Australian Imperial Force 6143 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 19th Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 380 Private 60th Depot
Australian Imperial Force 380 Private Cyclist Corps
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More about Peter Falconer -
Born 1898
Australian Imperial Force 6583 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6583 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Leonard Oscar Schultze -
Born 1898
Australian Imperial Force 6487 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6487 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Ronald Allen Burrows -
Born 1891
Australian Imperial Force 2478 Private 11th Btn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 7th Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 2478 Private 51st Btn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F
Australian Imperial Force 2478 Lance Corporal 51st Btn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F
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More about Frederick Mitchel Culverwell