Albert Edward See

Albert Edward See

Kings Park Memorial walk, May drive
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c October 1886
Place of Birth	Buckden, Huntington, England
Death	20 Sep 1917
Place of Death	Polygon Wood, Westhoek, Belgium
Age at Enlistment	30 years, 11 months
Description	5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 138 lbs 62.596 kg ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Timber worker
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Newtown, Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Margaret Mary See
Military Information
Reg Number	5086
Date of Enlistment	8 Mar 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 13th reinforcement /7th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jul 1916 ‒ 9 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Fate	Killed in Action 20 Sep 1917, Menin Road
Monument	Jarrahdale War Memorial Jarrahdale Honour Roll Menin Gate Memorial ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Albert was born at Buckden, Huntingdon, England in 1885. His parents were Thomas and Mary Anne See. Albert had a sister and two brothers. It is not known when the family emigrated to Western Australia. Albert attended Victoria Park primary school and as a young man was an all-round sportsman. His work experience involved carpentry skills and he was employed as a mill hand in the timber industry around Jarrahdale and also may have worked in the grocery trade. Albert married Margaret and they had three sons, Edward, William and Norman and lived in State Street, Victoria Park.

Electoral Roll entries - 1913 - 1916 at No 6 Mill, Jarrahdale with Margaret Mary, mill hand.

War Service

After 4 weeks basic training at Blackboy Hill camp, Bert was allocated to the 13th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and was appointed a Lance Corporal on 8 Sep 1916 for the voyage on HMAT A48 Seang Bee. Albert was later to give up this rank when he entered France. On arrival at Plymouth in England he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone, and on 16 Nov 1916 Bert proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone aboard the HMT Victoria.

Before joining his unit, Bert spent time at the Divisional Base Depot where he received some final training relating to trench warfare from experienced troops. He also spent time in the 26th General Hospital Étaples from 19 - 27 Dec 1916 with influenza, and time in No 6 Convalescent Depot before he joined the 28th Battalion on 23 Jan 1917 as they were assuming front line duties near Armentieres.

From 16 Mar 1917 until 11 May 1917 Bert was absent from the unit receiving treatment for a bout of Trench Fever. Seen on 16 Mar 1917 by the 6th Field Ambulance, and the nearby Casualty Clearing Station, he was transferred by Ambulance Train on 19 Mar 1917 to the No. 11 Stationary Hospital in Rouen, which released him on 31 Mar 1917 to No. 2 Convalescent Depot. On 26 Apr 1917 he had returned to the 2nd Division's Base Depot and on 11 May 1917 he was back with the 28th Battalion.

On 20 Sep 1917 the 28th Battalion was involved in the first of a series of thrusts by British forces that were to become known as the Third Battle of Ypres. The 28th Battalion achieved its objectives, but in doing so, it lost 66 men killed in action (Albert included), 36 missing, and more than 190 wounded, 11 of whom died from their wounds.

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  photo 2015 L.Reynolds
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  Section of 28th Battalion's panel

Post War

Wife granted a pension of 40/- per fortnight from 10 Dec 1917. The three sons also received pensions: Edward Morris 20/- fortnightly; William Thomas (b. 1914) 15/- fortnightly; and Norman Douglas (b. 1916) 10/- fortnightly.

Margaret remarried in 1925 to Richard John Gulley who died aged 75 in 1969. Margaret died 18 Jul 1974 in Mt Lawley aged 88.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial