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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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Born 1883
Australian Imperial Force 6590 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Thomas John Uff -
Born 1875
Australian Imperial Force 6585 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6585 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Henry Todhunter -
Born 1887
Australian Imperial Force 6543 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6543 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about John Blaney Murphy -
Born 1880
Australian Imperial Force 6551 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about John Mcconnell -
Born 1889
Australian Imperial Force 6571 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Thomas John Roberts -
Born 1886
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 6525 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6525 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about William Joseph Harrington -
Born 1887
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 6491 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Rupert Henry Cox -
Born 1873
Australian Imperial Force 6597 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Harry Whittingham -
Born 1886
Australian Imperial Force 6460 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6460 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Charles Myer Davis -
Born 1892
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 4932 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 15th Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 4932 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Alexander Wallace -
Born 1890
Australian Imperial Force 250 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. "D" Company
Australian Imperial Force 250 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 250 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Francis Edward Comery -
Born 1891
Australian Imperial Force 6586 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Joseph Thomas -
Born 1884
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 5753 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 18th Reinforcements
More about Albert James Moore -
Born 1893
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 5746 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 18th Reinforcements
More about William Simmons Meginess -
Born 1882
Australian Imperial Force 6601 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Ernest Wood -
Born 1892
Australian Imperial Force 6459 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about William Joseph Clark -
Born 1886
Australian Imperial Force 6620 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Frederick Charles Symes -
Born 1895
Died 1917
Australian Imperial Force 6099 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 19th Reinforcements
More about Alfred Bertram Trestrail -
Born 1890
Died 1918
Australian Imperial Force 6588 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
More about Konrat Jank Troyle -
Born 1885
Australian Imperial Force 6567 Private 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 21st Reinforcements
Australian Imperial Force 6567 Corporal 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
More about Percy Fabian Phillips