Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Belcher A E Pte 3017 Albert Edward 5 Inf Bn 25 Carpenter Married C of E
Address: Ascot Vale, Ormond Rd, 78
Next of Kin: Belcher, Annie, Mrs, wife, 78 Ormond Rd, Ascot Vale
Enlisted: 12 Jul 1915
Embarked: RMS Osterley 29 Sep 1915
Date of death: 12/12/1916
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Correspondence
Killed in Action 12/12/16
I knew casualty. He was a man about 5 ft 10 ins, slightly built, dark complexion. Casualty was in front line trench at Flers. An H5 shell exploded in the trench killing casualty instantly and Sgt Maxwell. I do not know if they were ever buried. Informant Pte E R Sheehan, no 97, 5th Btn (Port Melbourne)
Deceased and I were in the same company No's 4 & 3 platoons respectively and in the early part of December 1916 the company was occupying a section of front line trench named "Grease Trench" in front and to the right of Geudecourt village Somme. His death occurred during the night at about 9.30 pm. The enemy had taken alarm at some movements further along the line and dropped a very heavy barrage with starting suddeness. It was of some 45 minutes duration. Although I was not actually with deceased it is certain that he was killed immediately after the commencement of the barrage and instantaneously.
A whizzband (sic) entered the trench where he was standing and he was the only casualty. His platoon Sergeant, then Sgt, now Lieutenant W C Taylor of whose present whereabouts I now nothing., carried out the necessary formalities for his burial and could give fuller information, but I know he was buried behind the trench in which he was killed. Its location would be approximately 500 yards to the right of Geudecourt".
He was a man who was well liked by every one in his platoon. Informant No 10537 Sgt J A Smith, 37th Battalion (Richmond)
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1036786--1-.PDF
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War Service Commemorated
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour killed
In Memoriam
BELCHER.-In loving memory of my dear son,
Sergeant Albert E. Belcher, killed in action at
Guedecourt, France, December 12, loving
brother of William (on active service abroad).
Gone home; now calmly resting
Amid the loved ones there.
Gone home, to be with Jesus,
'Mid all that's bright and fair. -
(Inserted by his loving mother.)
The Argus 12 Dec 1917
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1669700
BELCHER In loving memory of my dear son,
Sergeant Albert F Belcher, killed at Gouzeau-
court Wood, in France, on the 12th December, 1916.
Christ will link the broken chain closer when we meet again "
(Inserted by his sorrowing mother and nephew, Ernie Cheel.)
The Argus 12 Dec 1918
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1403127
BELCHER In loving memory of my dear son,
Sergeant A F Belcher, 5th Battalion, killed in
action 12 December, 1916.
How much love and joy is buried with our
darling boy.
(Inserted by his loving mother and nephew,
Ernie Cheel. )
The Argus, 12 Dec 1919
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4638402
BELCHER. In loving memory of Sgt. A. E. Bel-
cher, who fell at Bullecourt Wood, France, 12th
December, 1916.
Farewell to you, dear Albert,
Sweet thoughts of you will keep,
Although four years have passed away,
Our grief is just as deep.
(Inserted by by loving mother, Ernie Cheel,
and Marie McCoubrie.)
The Argus, 13 Dec 1920
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4566339
No entries in The Argus in 1921 or 1922
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