Name
Alfred Penn
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/12/1916
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2969
Australian Pioneers
5th
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BERNAFAY WOOD BRITISH CEMETERY, MONTAUBAN
I. 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar
Pre War
Alfred Penn was born in South Mimms, Potters Bar in 1883 to Alfred Cornelius Penn, gardener, and Elizabeth (nee Howard). On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Alice Edith (born 1879), Elizabeth (born 1880), Walter (born 1882), Arthur (born 1885), Alfred, and Ethel (born 1888) were living at Bath Cottage, Southgate Road, South Mimms.
On the 1901 Census Alfred was working as warehouse porter and lodging in 51, Mostyn Road, Stratford, Bow, London. His family were living of parents, Elizabeth, Walter, Arthur and Ethel were living at Southgate Road, South Mimms.
Alfred migrated to Australia in 1911, his mother and father were living at Gordon Cottage, Southgate Road, South Mimms.
Wartime Service
Alfred embarked from Sydney with the 4th Battalion aboard HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 30 Sep 1915. On 8 Jan 1916 he was transferred into 56 Battalion AIF and on 3 Mar 1916 was posted in 5th Pioneer Battalion. Machine Gun Section. This Battalion was formed in Egypt in Mar 1916 from forces recently evacuated from Gallipoli and also reinforcements from Australia. The Battalion sailed aboard ‘Canada’ from Alexandria on 19 Jun 1916 arriving Marseilles on 25 Jun 1916. The 5th Pioneer Battalion became Divisional troops to 5 Australian Division and were to take part in the diversionary action at Fromelles (19-20 Jul 1916). They were transferred to the Somme and were deployed to Ancre sector when the major fighting was reducing to minor actions intending to gain tactical advantages.
Alfred was wounded on 8 Dec 1916 and died of his wounds the following day, 9 Dec 1916, at the 14th Field Ambulance. He was aged 31.
Additional Information
No details are available for an exact address or his relationship to Stockton other than that this was where he was living at the time of his enlistment. A Mrs Gwendoline EVANS is listed as a person to speak to on the Roll of Honour Circular (forms sent to next of kin seeking details regarding the deceased. They form the basis of the card indexes from which the original Roll of Honour was compiled at the Australian War Memorial). She is also listed as the Executrix of his will (7). It is possible that she ran a boarding house and that was where he was living at the time of his enlistment.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Michelle Watson - Watson & Stockton Historical Society (Australia)
Jonty Wild,
