Luke Siford

Luke Siford

Sunday Times 12 Nov 1916 p.6S & Daily News 23 Sep 1916 p.4
Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1895
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	29 Jul 1916
Place of Death	Poziéres, France
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 9 months
Description	5'9½" (1.77m) tall ; 146 lbs 66.224 kg ; medium complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Luke Siford Snr
Military Information
Reg Number	3279
Date of Enlistment	31 Aug 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement allocated to A Company / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jan 1916 ‒ 16 Feb 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Fate	Prisoner of War Died 29 Jul 1916 of Wounds received same day
Monument	Jarrahdale War Memorial Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Although he entered Blackboy Hill camp on 1 Aug 1915, it was not until 1 Nov 1915 that he was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.

Initially sent to Egypt, he remained there for just over a month before he was embarked on SS Oriana in Alexandria on 21 Mar 1916 for Marseilles, arriving there on 27 Mar 1916. Luke was held by the 2nd Division's Base depot until he was called forward.

On 9 Jun 1916 Luke was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion, who at the time were in support trenches in the Bois-Grenier area. Between 6 Jul 1916 and 27 Jull 1916 the battalion moved from trenches near Messines to Sausage Valley, a rear area behind the lines near Poziéres. The majority of this distance was covered on foot.

On the 28th, the battalion took up position ready to attack enemy position north of Poziéres. At 10 minutes after midnight. they advanced in four waves on the enemy positions, taking heavy casualties from machine gun and artillery fire, compounded by the fact that their own artillery had not created breaks in the German barbed wire defences. Soon after 2:00am those that could withdrew to their earlier position. 63 Men were killed outright, another 151 were wounded and recovered to Australian lines, and 257 were classified as missing, many of them wounded, including Luke.

Reported MIA 29 Jul 1916. Red Cross file:.

"Of A Company. At Pozieres on the 29th July 1916 he was lying in same shell hole as myself, just outside German line. Was badly wounded in thigh by bullet: he was conscious and when we were taken Prisoners of War and taken into enemy's trench, I said goodbye to him. I did not see him again." Parsons C.R. Pte 3227 Translated documents from German Army advise that "he died at the Chief Dressing Station of the Sanitation Company No 117 as the result of gas poisoning, bullet shot left upper thigh and fracture of the same leg."

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  Valley Cemetery, Vis-En-Artois
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

220th Casualty List Missing L. Siford (Jarrahdale). Mr L. Siford has had a letter from military headquarters confirming the news of the death of his son, Private Luke Siford, A.I.F. (previously reported missing). He died while a prisoner of war in Germany.

Mother granted pension of 40/- per fortnight from 24 Feb 1917.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial
• Ballarat POW Memorial