Born at Birchip, Victoria in 1894 to Johanna (nee Stephan), Albert’s father was un-named on his birth certificate.
Described as a farmer, Albert was married to Maud Alice. The couple had a daughter, also Maud who was born in 1917. The birth was registered at Stroud, NSW. Albert enlisted with the 21st Reinforcements, 18th Infantry Battalion at Newcastle on the 6th of November 1917 giving Maud, living at 26 Church Street, Newcastle, as his next of kin.
On the 19th of December 1917 the 21st Reinforcements embarked aboard the ‘HMAT A38 Ulysses’ at Sydney to arrive at Suez on the 16th of January 1918. Boarding the ‘HMT Leasowe Castle’ at Port Said on the 24th the 21st Reinforcements arrived at Taranto, Italy on the 2nd of February joining No 9 Camp. Next came a train journey from Taranto leaving on the 5th to Cherbourg in France, arriving on the 12th. They then sailed to disembark at Southampton and marched in to Fovant on the 13th of February. On the 20th of May he left Fovant to go to France via the port of Southampton. Arriving at Havre on the 24th they were taken on strength with the 18th Battalion on the 28th of May.
The Battle of Hamel was a successful attack by the Australian Army and US Army infantry, supported by British tanks, against German positions in and around the town of Le Hamel, in northern France. The attack was planned and commanded by Lieutenant General John Monash, commander of the Australia Corps, and took place on the 4th of July 1918. The Second Battle of the Marne which followed, was from the 15th to the 18th of July and was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. The attack failed when an Allied counterattack, supported by several hundreds of tanks, overwhelmed the Germans on their right flank, inflicting severe casualties. The German defeat marked the start of the relentless Allied advance, which culminated in the Armistice with Germany about 100 days later. Albert was 23 years old when he was ‘Killed in Action’ on the 29th of July 1918 in the aftermath of this battle in France.
On the 10th of August 1918, the 3rd Echelon reported Albert was buried at Blaingy, Trouville- 62D 19P D19 20. His personal effects were- Disc, Wallet, YMCA wallet, photo, cards, religious medallion. In April 1920 it was reported that Albert was re-interred at Crucifix Corner Cemetery.
Keeping track of Maude’s details became a problem for the War Office as she moved constantly. In January 1920 she was at 15 Tyrell St, Newcastle. Later in 1920 she was at Macquarie House, Matts St, Newcastle and at Meriwa St, Cordon in 1922. Her last known address was Mt Colah via Hornsby, however correspondence in 1923 stated ‘not at this address- 4 Merlyn St Nth Sydney.’ It seems she never remarried.
