Albert Edward Coates Delamotte
From Our Contribution
 | |
| 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" Parents - Henry Edward DELAMOTTE and Marian Maud GREEN Siblings - 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, travelling 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 is transferred to the 15th Engineering Field Company.
In Feb 1917 he is late for a parade and is punished with 1 day of Field Punishment No 2. On 22 July he is seen by the 15th Australian Field Ambulance and is 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, and this time is away from his unit until the end of September.
Again seen by the 15th Australian Field Ambulance, he is sent to the 7th Canadian Stationary Hospital in Le Havre. Again diarrhoea is the problem. Eventually after being seen by a number of medical units in Boulogne and Le Havre, he returns 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 enjoys another leave in the UK.
Soon after he is again ill and on 31 Oct 1918 is admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital with influenza, and was released to the base unit three days after the Armistice. Rejoining his unit he has another three months with them before he begins the journey home by shifting back to a base depot in England.
Returns 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.
Discharged at 5th Military District on 14 Aug 1919.
Post War
In 1919 Albert married Emily Mary Green. Their 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.