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Difference between revisions of "Bertie Greenfield"

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{{Infobox
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{{infobox soldier
| name           = Bertie Greenfield
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| image           = [[File:Greenfield_Bertie.jpg|400px]]
 
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| caption         = Internet
| title          =
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| image2         = [[File:Greenfield_Bertie_1.jpg]]
| above          =
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| caption2       = VC Corner Memorial wall L Reynolds photo May 2023
| subheader      =
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| dateofbirth   = c1888
 
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| placeofbirth   = Worthing, Sussex, England
 
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| death           = 20 Jul 1916
|  image        = [[File:Unknown.png|400px|]]
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| placeofdeath   = Fromelles, France
| caption       =  
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| enlistmentage   = 26 Years, 10 months
|   image2       =  
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| description   = 5' 4½" (1.63m) tall; weight 142 lbs (64.4 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair
| caption2       =  
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| height          = 5' 4½" (1.63m)
 
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| weight          = 142 lbs
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
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| complexion      = dark
|labelstyle  = background:#ddf;
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| eyes            = brown
|datastyle    =
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| hair            = dark brown
 
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| descriptionnote =  
| header1  = Personal Information
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| occupation   = Brickmaker
 
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| religion   = Methodist
|  label2  = Date of Birth
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| address   = 208 Railway parade, West Leederville, Western Australia
data2  = Not known
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| relation   = Father
 
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| nextofkin      = Mr Edward Greenfield
|  label3  = Place of Birth
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| regnumber   = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4705070 1275]
data3  = Worthing, Sussex, England
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| enlistmentdate = 19 Jul 1915
 
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| rank           = Private
| label4  = Death
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| unit      = 32nd Battalion, D Company
|  data4  = 20 Jul 1916
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| embarkationdatefrom = 18 Nov 1915
 
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| embarkationdateto = 18 Dec 1915
|  label5  = Place of Death
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| shipembarked   = [[HMAT A2 Geelong]]
data5  = Fromelles, France
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| embarkedshipnote = Adelaide to Port Suez
 
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| embarkationdatefrom2 =
|  label6  = Age at Enlistment
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| embarkationdateto2 =
data6  = 26 Years, 10 months
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| shipembarked2   =
 
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| embarkedshipnote2 =
|  label7  = Description
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| dateofreturnfrom =
data7  = 5' 4½" (1.63m) tall; weight 142 lbs (64.4 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair
+
| dateofreturnto  =
 
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| shipreturned    =
| label8  = Occupation
+
| shipreturnednote =
|   data8  = brickmaker
+
| dateofreturnfrom2 =
 
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| dateofreturnto2 =  
| label9  = Religion
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| shipreturned2    =
data9  = Methodist
+
| shipreturnednote2 =
 
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| fate1           = Killed in Action 20 Jul 1916 at Fromelles, France
| label10  = Address
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| fate2          =
data10  = 208 Railway parade, West Leederville, Western Australia
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| fate3          =
 
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| fate4          =
| label11 = Next of Kin
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| monument1   = [[Armadale War Memorial]]  
|   data11 = Father  Mr Edward Greenfield
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| monumentnote1  = (Beenup panel)
 
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| monument2   = [[VC Corner Memorial]]
| header12 = Military Information
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| monumentnote2  =
 
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| monument3   = [[Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour]]
|  label13 = Reg Number
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| monumentnote3  =
data13 = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4705070 1275]
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| monument4   = [[WA State War Memorial]]
 
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| monumentnote4  =
label14 = Date of Enlistment
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| monument5   =
|  data14 = 19 Jul 1915
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| monumentnote5  =
 
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| monument6   =
| label15 = Rank
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| monumentnote6  =
|  data15 = Private
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| monumentawm    = [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1633610 Australian War Memorial]
 
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| monumentawmnote =
| label16 = Unit/Formation
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| monumentother  =
|  data16 = 32nd Battalion, D Company
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| monumentothernote =
 
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| medal1   = [[1914-15 Star]]
| label17 = Date of Embarkation
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| medal2          = [[British War Medal]]
|   data17 = 28 Nov 1915 - 18 Dec 1915
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| medal3          = [[Victory Medal]]
 
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| medal4          =
|  label18 = Ship Embarked On
 
data18 = [[HMAT A2 Geelong]]
 
 
 
label21 = Fate
 
|   data21 = Killed in Action 20 Jul 1916 at Fromelles, France
 
 
 
| label22 = Monument
 
data22 = [[Armadale War Memorial]] (Beenup panel)<br />[[VC Corner Memorial]]
 
 
 
| label23 = Medals
 
data23 = [[1914-15 Star]]<br />[[British War Medal]]<br />[[Victory Medal]]
 
 
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==War Service==
 
==War Service==
A month after entering training he was allocated to the newly formed 32nd Battalion.  The Western Australian companies travelled to South Australia to join the rest of the unit before travelling to Egypt.   
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A month after beginning training with the 16th Depot Company, Bertie was allocated to the newly formed [[32nd Battalion]] which comprised 2 companies raised in Western Australia, and two in South Australia.  The Western Australian companies travelled to South Australia to join the rest of the unit before travelling to Egypt.   
  
Following further training they embarked on the [[HMT Transylvania]] in Alexandria (17 Jun 1916) for Marseilles in southern France where they arrived on 23 Jun 1916.
+
Following a further six months of training and guarding the Suez Canal Zone, they embarked on the [[HMT Transylvania]] in Alexandria (17 Jun 1916) for Marseilles in southern France where they arrived on 23 Jun 1916.
  
 
On 19 Jul the 32nd Battalion, as part of the 8th Brigade, were on the left side of the Australian attack on the German lines at Fromelles.  Bertie is one of 400 men captured by the Germans during the battle, and on 20 Jul 1916 he was officially posted as Missing.
 
On 19 Jul the 32nd Battalion, as part of the 8th Brigade, were on the left side of the Australian attack on the German lines at Fromelles.  Bertie is one of 400 men captured by the Germans during the battle, and on 20 Jul 1916 he was officially posted as Missing.
 +
 +
<blockquote> An extensive Red Cross File held at the AWM includes the following:"Missin 20.7.16. Greenfield (D Coy) was in the attack on the Fromelles front on this date and Informant was told by Sgt (then Cpl) Bishop of D Coy. 1215, that he last saw Greenfield on the German parapet. He was groaning and seriously wounded. He was seen when retiring but it was impossible to bring him in." '''1216 Sgt Bosville''' MG Section.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1044310 |title=Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Bertie Greenfield |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2018|website=Australian War Memorial |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref>.
  
 
His records indicate that on 24 Nov 1916 a German List dated 4 Nov 1916 was received by the Wounded and Missing Inquiry Bureau stating "The identification marks found on the prisoners of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the list as under "Dead".
 
His records indicate that on 24 Nov 1916 a German List dated 4 Nov 1916 was received by the Wounded and Missing Inquiry Bureau stating "The identification marks found on the prisoners of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the list as under "Dead".
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On 13 Mar 1917 his Identification Disc was received from Germany with the news that he was deceased and he was therefore declared to have been Killed in Action 20 Jul 1916.
 
On 13 Mar 1917 his Identification Disc was received from Germany with the news that he was deceased and he was therefore declared to have been Killed in Action 20 Jul 1916.
  
On file is a statement by 1216 Sgt Bosville of the Machine Gun Section, that he had been advised by 1215 Sgt Bishop of D Company...<blockquote>"that he last saw Greenfield on the German parapet.  He was groaning and seriously wounded.  He was seen when retiring, but it was impossible to bring him in."</blockquote>
 
  
 
<div><ul>  
 
<div><ul>  
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:VC_Corner_Fromelles.jpg|thumb|none|600px|VC Corner Australian Cemetery & Memorial]] </li>
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<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:VC_Corner_Fromelles.jpg|thumb|none|400px|VC Corner Australian Cemetery & Memorial]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File: Greenfield_Bertie_2.jpg|Location of VC Corner]] <li>
 
</ul></div>
 
</ul></div>
  
 
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
1917 Feb-Mar edition of The Drill of the Foot-Hills.  Listed as per on the memorial i.e. T Greenshilds.  [No one by the surname Greenshilds enlisted during WW1, and there are no matches using the surname Greenshield(s).  Bertie Greenfield was a brickmaker and although the address given for enlistment is West Leederville, it is very likely that he was known to either the Beenup or Cardup brickyards.]
 
1917 Feb-Mar edition of The Drill of the Foot-Hills.  Listed as per on the memorial i.e. T Greenshilds.  [No one by the surname Greenshilds enlisted during WW1, and there are no matches using the surname Greenshield(s).  Bertie Greenfield was a brickmaker and although the address given for enlistment is West Leederville, it is very likely that he was known to either the Beenup or Cardup brickyards.]
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[[Category:Soldier]]
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
[[Category:32nd Battalion]]
 
 
[[Category:1916 Deaths]]
 
[[Category:1916 Deaths]]
 
[[Category:1916 KIA]]
 
[[Category:1916 KIA]]
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[[Category:brickmaker]]
 
[[Category:brickmaker]]
 
[[Category:Methodist]]
 
[[Category:Methodist]]
[[Category:1914-15 Star]]
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[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott]]

Latest revision as of 12:34, 11 December 2023

Bertie Greenfield
Greenfield Bertie.jpg
Internet
Greenfield Bertie 1.jpg
VC Corner Memorial wall L Reynolds photo May 2023
Personal Information
Date of Birth c1888
Place of Birth Worthing, Sussex, England
Death 20 Jul 1916
Place of Death Fromelles, France
Age at Enlistment 26 Years, 10 months
Description 5' 4½" (1.63m) tall ; 142 lbs
64.41 kg
; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation Brickmaker
Religion Methodist
Address 208 Railway parade, West Leederville, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Edward Greenfield
Military Information
Reg Number 1275
Date of Enlistment 19 Jul 1915
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 32nd Battalion, D Company
Date of Embarkation 18 Nov 1915 ‒ 18 Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On HMAT A2 Geelong Adelaide to Port Suez
Fate Killed in Action 20 Jul 1916 at Fromelles, France
Monument Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel)
VC Corner Memorial
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
WA State War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
Medals 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

A month after beginning training with the 16th Depot Company, Bertie was allocated to the newly formed 32nd Battalion which comprised 2 companies raised in Western Australia, and two in South Australia. The Western Australian companies travelled to South Australia to join the rest of the unit before travelling to Egypt.

Following a further six months of training and guarding the Suez Canal Zone, they embarked on the HMT Transylvania in Alexandria (17 Jun 1916) for Marseilles in southern France where they arrived on 23 Jun 1916.

On 19 Jul the 32nd Battalion, as part of the 8th Brigade, were on the left side of the Australian attack on the German lines at Fromelles. Bertie is one of 400 men captured by the Germans during the battle, and on 20 Jul 1916 he was officially posted as Missing.

An extensive Red Cross File held at the AWM includes the following:"Missin 20.7.16. Greenfield (D Coy) was in the attack on the Fromelles front on this date and Informant was told by Sgt (then Cpl) Bishop of D Coy. 1215, that he last saw Greenfield on the German parapet. He was groaning and seriously wounded. He was seen when retiring but it was impossible to bring him in." 1216 Sgt Bosville MG Section.[1].

His records indicate that on 24 Nov 1916 a German List dated 4 Nov 1916 was received by the Wounded and Missing Inquiry Bureau stating "The identification marks found on the prisoners of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the list as under "Dead".

On 13 Mar 1917 his Identification Disc was received from Germany with the news that he was deceased and he was therefore declared to have been Killed in Action 20 Jul 1916.


  • VC Corner Australian Cemetery & Memorial
  • Location of VC Corner

Notes

1917 Feb-Mar edition of The Drill of the Foot-Hills. Listed as per on the memorial i.e. T Greenshilds. [No one by the surname Greenshilds enlisted during WW1, and there are no matches using the surname Greenshield(s). Bertie Greenfield was a brickmaker and although the address given for enlistment is West Leederville, it is very likely that he was known to either the Beenup or Cardup brickyards.]


  1. "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Bertie Greenfield". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018. 

External Links