Private H.A. Braden is a name that I came across on the war memorial in the Church at Alfriston, East Sussex, England. I was fascinated that a man from Alfriston should fight for the Australian Infantry. On discovering his details I found that he was born in the village but traveled to Australia at the age of 24 and enlisted in Queensland some 10 years later. Anyway here are his records:-
He was born in Alfriston, Sussex, England. The son of Henry and Jane Braden; 25 Winton Street, Alfriston, Sussex.
He was 5’ 7” tall, weighed 140 lbs, Blue eyes, and Brown hair.
At the age of 24 he left England for Australia and found employment as a Laborer.
He served 2 years in the Auckland Rifles.
20th September 1915. He enlisted at Wallangarra, Queensland.
He embarked from Queensland on the ‘Commonwealth’ on 28th March 1916.
He was sent to the 7th Training battalion but on 22nd July 1916, he was found guilty of not complying with orders, being in Salisbury with out a pass and got a 24 hour detention.
Three days later 25th July 1916 he was sent to the 2nd Division base at Estaples and on the 4th August 1916 joined the 26th Battalion.
In December 1916 he was taken sick with a Pyrexia (fever) of an uncertain nature and eventually moved to the 3rd AGH at Brighton.
He was discharged from hospital on 8th February 1917 and given a furlough until the 23rd.
On 22nd February 1917 he married Elisa Louisa Haines, of Battersea London a 36 year old spinster; he was 34 at Wandsworth Registry Office. He changed his next of kin records on 30th April 1918.
On 22nd March 1917 he was temporarily attached to Head Quarters of the 3rd Company Depot at Hurdcott. Over the next few months he moved between 4th Company Depot at Wareham and the 3rd Company Depot until on 8th May 1918 he rejoined the 26th May in France.
He was killed in Action on the 8th August 1918, aged 35.
He was originally buried in Card Copse Cemetery, Marcelcave, on the road to Fouilloy. 35 Australian soldiers were buried there by the 2nd Divison, between July and August 1918.
He was later moved and is now buried in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France.
I have been unable to find any images of Pte. Braden. However i came across these of the 26th Battalion in August 1918, a few days after he died.
Australian War Memorial Negative Number E02941
11th August 1918, France: Picardie, Somme Framerville
Men of the 26th Battalion resting and reading their mail by their dugouts not far from the front line. Shown, a communication trench leading into the front line forward of Vauvillers, and from which the 7th Infantry Brigade moved into position for the attack beyond Framerville towards Lihons the same morning. At left, sitting on the barrel is Corporal W. Gill, and standing behind, on the left, is Private C. Frost.
Australian War Memorial Negative Number E03091
31st August 1918, France: Picardie, Somme Herbecourt
The 26th Battalion on the road on their way to the front line.
Source : National Archives of Australia.
Photographes : Australian War Museum
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