Alfred William Fitch Ansell “Alf” enlisted under his mother's maiden name (Fitch) in 1915.
Born in 1886 at Swan Hill in Victoria, he worked as a labourer prior to the outbreak of war.
Alf was 5 feet 7 inches, 147 pounds (170.2cm, 66.7kg) and had blue-grey eyes, dark hair and was of fair complexion.
Three of the five sons of Frank and Emily Ansell, Alf, Frank and Charles - enlisted to serve during the first World War.
Only Charles returned home to Australia. Frank was killed in Action on 9 Aug 1918 on the Somme.
Alf was with the 5th Pioneer Battalion.
Lieutenant Whitfield reported that Alf was the only one unaccounted for on the night of the battle and a Pioneer tunic was seen lying in No Man’s land that likely belonged to Alf.
Originally listed as killed in action on the 23rd July 1916, his name appeared on the German Death List (GDL) and was commemorated at Villers Bretonneux.
Alf’s identity disc was sent from Germany via the Red Cross in June 1917 and eventually returned to the family, this was the only personal effect returned to the family.
His mother Emily wrote in 1916:
“I wish I could find where his is…
I do wish he had never gone.
God bless him wherever he is, my darling”
A memorial notice 1 year later in 1917 reads:
“If your grave could only open, dear Alf,
Many changes you would see,
But we think it is far better,
You are resting peacefully”
Lost on the battlefield, buried at Pheasant Wood and found 108 years later, many changes indeed.
For more information, visit https://fromelles.info/.../282-private-alfred-william.../
Lest we forget.
