Albert Helliwell

Albert Helliwell

Albert Halliwell (centre)
Personal Information
Date of Birth	16 Feb 1896
Place of Birth	North Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	19 Nov 1960
Place of Death	Croydon, Victoria
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 8 months
Description	5'6" (1.68m) tall tall ; 138lbs 62.596 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Boat builder
Religion	Salvation Army
Address	Fremantle, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Isaac Helliwell
Military Information
Reg Number	2661
Date of Enlistment	6 Sep 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Date of Return	9 Dec 1918 ‒ 15 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Leicestershire
Fate	WIA 20 Apr 1917 Ploegsteert Wood Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 11 Sep 1916 and almost immediately he was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 48th Battalion. However, six days later, on 20 Sep 1916 this changed to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion. Two months later he travelled with them to England, where on arrival they were sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington to prepare for France.

On 10 Jan 1917 Albert proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone, and on 13 Apr 1917 he was taken on strength by the 44th Battalion at the Catacombs near Ploegsteert. One week later, on 20 Apr 1917 Albert was wounded in action when the battalion moved into Ploegsteert Wood relieving the 43rd Battalion. The unit War Diary records two (2) casualties (wounded) that day due to shell fire.

Treated by the 9th Australian Field Ambulance for shrapnel wounds to his left arm, right thigh and knee, he was passed back to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on the same day. Two days later on 22 Apr 1917 Albert was transferred by Ambulance Train to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux, and on 24 Apr 1917 he boarded HMHS St Andrew in Boulogne for England where he was admitted to the Middlesex County War Hospital on 25 Apr 1917.

Recovered, he was granted furlough from 15 - 30 May 1917 wit instructions to report to the Training Depot at Hurdcott, where on 31 May 1917 he was reclassified B1A3. Reclassified five more times between 1 Jun 1917 and 1 Jan 1918, when he was placed on the permanent cadre staff of No.3 Command Depot.

On 27 May 1918 Albert was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford with Urethritis, and received treatment until 1 Jun 1918. On 12 Sep 1918 Albert was transferred from Sutton Veny to Hurdcott to prepare for his early return to Australia on the grounds of deafness. Discharged by the 5th Military District on 15 Feb 1919.

Post War

During 1932 Albert married Emma Louisa Hollingworth in Victoria.