Alexander Russell Main

Alexander Russell Main

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1886
Place of Birth	Bendigo, Victoria
Death	21 Oct 1955
Place of Death	Urbenville, New South Wales
Age at Enlistment	29 years, 2 months
Description	5' 7½ " (1.71m) tall ; 135 lbs 61.235 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Roleystone, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Elizabeth Main
Military Information
Reg Number	2713
Date of Enlistment	18 Aug 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement; transferred to 51st Battalion transferred again to 13th Machine Gun Company
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1915 ‒ 26 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	13 Feb 1917 ‒ 6 Apr 1917
Ship Returned On	HMAT A38 Ulysses Plymouth to Fremantle
Fate	Wounded in Action 14 Aug 1916 Mouquet Farm Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North Panel) Roleystone Honour Board
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1910 - 1917 Canning road, Kelmscott

War Service

Entering Blackboy hill camp's 24th Depot Company on 18 Aug 1915, he undertook general military training until 16 Oct 1915 when he was allocated to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.

He travelled with the draft to Egypt where he undertook further training until 3 Mar 1916 when he was transferred to the newly established 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir. On 16 Mar 1916 he was transferred again, this time to the 13th Machine Gun Company. With his unit, he then travelled from Alexandria in Egypt to France on the HMT Ivernia, disembarking on 12 Jun 1916 in Marseilles.

The Unit War Diary records that they were in the front line near Poziéres, forward of the Chalk Pit in August 1916, and that on the 14th they suffered 2 killed and 4 wounded, Alex included. His injuries were a shrapnel wound to left thigh from enemy shelling. Treated by the 4th Field Ambulance before being passed to a Casualty Clearing Station and then, on 19 Aug 1916 to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux.

Evacuated to England through Rouen on HMHS Western Australia on 21 Aug 1916, he was admitted to the Edinburgh War Hospital on 23 Aug 1916, before transferring to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 10 Oct 1916. Recovered, on 10 Nov 1916 he enjoyed a fortnight's leave and on 25 Nov 1916 reported to the No. 2 Base Depot at Weymouth, destined for Australia.

He left for a 5 month 'change' from Plymouth, but on return to Australia was discharged by the 5th Military District on 30 Jun 1917.

"Has gone into camp from Roleystone and along with Keith Podger, Harris Smith and Frank Grabham was given a send off on Saturday 13th September." "Reported wounded"

Post War

Alexander was granted a pension of 30/- per fortnight from 1 Jul 1917. On 13 Oct 1917 a pension of 15/- per fortnight is granted to Alex's wife Agnes (nee Mylam) who he had married on his return from the UK in 1917. Agnes died on 13 Feb 1949 in Highgate, aged 65.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1931 in Benari road, Caversham, a farmer; 1936 -37 at 2 Thompson road, Bassendean no occupation given; 1943 - 1949 at 107 Smith street, North Perth; 1954 following Agnes's death in 1949 he was c/- G.Klause, Bridgetown.

Son Albert Russell Main (b.6 Mar 1919) enlisted at Bellview and served in the Militia and the Second AIF in WW2 with Regimental Nos WX27804, and 436559.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial