Austin Henry (Paddy) Bingham
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail 7 Sep 1917 page 19 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Place of Birth | Williams, Western Australia |
| Death | 30 Aug 1916 |
| Place of Death | Mouquet Farm, Poziérs, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 11 months |
| Description | 5' 9 ¾" (1.77m) tall; weight 206 lbs (93.4 kg); ruddy complexion, brown eyes, and black hair |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | NOK Prospect road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr William Henry Bingham |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 5339 |
| Date of Enlistment | 17 Feb 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 17th Reinforement / 4th Brigade 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 17 Apr 1916 - 14 May 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Fate | Killed in Action 30 Aug 1916 at Mouquet Farm, Poziérs |
| Monument |
Armadale (Armadale panel) Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Joined with brother 5338 Arthur Edward Bingham. Before joining his unit he was hospitalised in Suez with German measles.
Departed Alexandria for Marseilles on 7 Jun 1916, aboard the HMT Ionian arriving on the 14th and entered the 4th Division Base Depot at Étaples. Taken on strength by the 16th Battalion at Vadencourt on 25 August 1916. The Battalion was at the time moving into the front lines to replace the 14th Battalion, preparatory to attacking Mouquet Farm.
Austin's death was reported in The Sun (Kalgoorlie) on 8 Oct 1916, but occurred along with 30 KIA, 150 WIA and 51 others missing in action on 30 Aug 1916 as the 16th Battalion was being relieved by the 47th Battalion. A significant proportion of the deaths and injuries were caused by their own heavy artillery.
Austin's body was not recovered, so he was one of the 51 MIA and hence he is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
227th Casualty List... KILLED IN ACTION....A. H. Bingham (Armadale), previously reported ill.[1]
"Enlisted 15th February, sailed on 17th April as part of the same unit as his brother, and was killed in action in France on the 29th August, 1915."[2]
[Note: Army records show the 30th to be correct date. However, the family continue to commemorate the 29th with annual notices in the West Australian until his brother Bill died in 1933.]
- File:Bingham Memorial.jpgSection of Villers-Bretonneux Memorial L. Reynolds photo
References
- ↑ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXII, (4,526). Western Australia. 3 October 1916. p. 7. Retrieved 25 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Feb–Mar 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia.