Albert Edward Coates Delamotte
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11 Apr 1888 |
| Place of Birth | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Death | 10 Jun 1952, aged 64 |
| Place of Death | Hollywood Repatriation Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 27 years, 5 months |
| Description | 5'6½" (1.69m)tall; weight 132 lbs (59.9 kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair. |
| Occupation | gas engine driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Norseman, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Marion Delamotte |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4492 |
| Date of Enlistment | 18 Oct 1915 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion , 14th Reinforcement transferred to 13th and then the 15th Field Company Engineers, 5th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 12 Feb 1916 - 10 Mar 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A28 Miltiades |
| Date of Return | 8 May 1919 - 15 Jun 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Devanha |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Kelmscott-Armadale Parish Roll of Honour pencil entry |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Family
Known as "BERT", his parents were Henry Edward DELAMOTTE and Marian Maud GREEN. His siblings were - George Phillip, Harold Francis, Shirley Cotes, Henry Digby (Harry), Lavinia C., Hardy C.
Pre War
Electoral Roll entry - 1913 Norseman (WA), a trucker; 1915 Norseman, miner.
War Service
Initially allocated to the 14th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, he travelled with them to Egypt, arriving in Port Suez on 10 Mar 1916.
On 26 Mar 1916 he was transferred to the 13th Field Company - Engineers. In April he spent 10 days in hospital at Serapeum with diarrhea, before proceeding to France with his unit, leaving Alexandria on 6 June, and disembarking in Marseilles 13 Jun 1916. In France he was again in need of a hospital stint in August, resulting in his being transferred to the Australian General Base Depot. On 25 Nov 1916 he was transferred to the 15th Field Company - Engineers.
In Feb 1917 he is late for a parade and was punished with one day of Field Punishment No 2. On 22 July he was seen by the 15th Field Ambulance and was sent to the 5th Division's Rest Station before being released back to this unit by the 56th Casualty Clearing Station on 8 Aug 1917. However, he was back in hospital 2 days later with the 15th Field Ambulance, he was sent to the 7th Canadian Stationary Hospital in Le Havre. Again diarrhoea was the problem. Eventually after being seen by a number of medical units in Boulogne and Le Havre, he returned to his unit on 27 Sep 1917.
In Nov 1917 he was granted a fortnight's leave in England. On 2 Jul 1918 he was appointed a Lance Corporal and in September he enjoyed another leave in the UK.
Soon after he was again ill, and on 31 Oct 1918 he was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital with influenza, before being released to the base unit three days after the Armistice. Rejoining his unit he had another three months with them before he began the journey home, begun by shifting back to a base depot in England.
Albert returned to Australia on the SS Devanha 8 May 1919 - 15 Jun 1919 although on the journey home he spent from the 16th to the 24th May 1919 in the ship's hospital. He was discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Aug 1919.
Post War
On 8 October 1919 Albert married Emily Mary Green (registered at Canning). He was 31 years old and Emily was 27 years old. Emily's parents were William Binns Green and Annie Yates Walker. Albert and Emaily's children include: Dorothy Phyllis, Betty Elwyn and Marion. Albert worked for the Postmaster General's Department. Albert's interests: Secretary Guildford Voluntary Firebrigade, Member of Goolamrup Lodge W.A.C. and Armadale RSL Emily died 11 Dec 1977, aged 86. Both are buried in Kelmscott. Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1931 with Emily Mary in Sixth road, Armadale, engine driver; by 1936 they have moved to William street, Armadale where Emily remains after Bert's death until 1977 where she is at 16 Deerness Way, Armadale.
Notes
'Married' into the district immediately after the war and remained until his death. Is included on the Kelmscott-Armadale Parish paper Roll of Honour.