Need help with stickers and categories for WWI soldier who died of meningitis in Australia.

Question

My grandfather's cousin, [[McIver-775|Alberto Dias McIver (1884-1917)]], enlisted in the AIF for service abroad in WWI on 19 June 1917 and after traiing, died of meningitis on 24 August 1917, while still in Australia.

Other battalions seem to have a number, but in this case the unit was described as Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, with no number shown.  How do I find the unit number?

Another difficulty I have is with his rank.  The AWM & NAA show his rank as Private, although the hospital where he died stated Corporal, as did the local newspaper report.  Do I use the rank of Private?

I have added the category Category:Died in Military Service, Australia, World War I as it seems to fit.

Thanks

Doreen

Answer 1

I've added a couple more Categories and Sources, Doreen.  

The Infantry Depot Battalion at Liverpool was probably a holding unit for soldiers having completed their basic training and awaiting allocation to a (numbered) battalion and deployment to the Western Front. Categories have not been developed for those (obviously temporary and short-term) situations.

Regarding the rank situation, Corporal is often used as a generic title for Lance Corporals and Corporals.  At first glance, I would not be surprised if Alberto had previous military service (being 32 years of age and single). He may even have been serving in a Militia unit and simply been transferring to the AIF (The Militia was formed under one Act of Parliament and did not permit overseas service, whilst the AIF was established under a special Act to allow for volunteers to serve overseas; it was almost like having two armies).  Alberto's experience could very well have earned him promotion at such an early point of his AIF service.  It may have even been a Temporary promotion, which he would have relinquished upon reaching an AIF battalion in France. Good luck with your research. I'll keep an eye peeled for anything further.

Comments

Kenneth, according to the Attestation Papers on pages 1 and 5 of the NAA digital copy, he had no previous military service, even with the Militia.

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Thanks, Jim. Did you notice that he put a false age on the form also?  He was born in 1884 not 1887.

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Thanks Kenneth, I missed the age. Well spotted! Would 33 have been too old to join up?

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Jim, thanks for the additions to the Bio, as well as Categories and Sources.

Thanks Kenneth and Jim for these comments,

I'd also noticed his false age and wondered about it.

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No Jim. That was well within the acceptable age.

Answer 2

Hi Doreen. The digital copy of the NAA record is at this permalink. On page 5 in the top right hand corner it says, in a rubber stamp with a box round it,

1st. Depot Battalion

Liverpool

Is that any help?

The NAA record gives his rank as Private in a number of places. Although Corporal does appear on the copy of the death certificate on page 14, it is likely that was a mistake, because sadly there does not seem to have been enough time for a promotion between enlistment on 19 June 1917 and death on 24 August.

The category you chose seems appropriate.

Comments

Thanks Jim,

I thought I'd used NAA permalinks previously. Also, I hadn't read the stamp impint.  Thanks for pointing these out.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, it is not possible to determine the unit number for Alberto Dias McIver's service in the AIF. The best way to find out more information about his service is to contact the Australian War Memorial (AWM) or the National Archives of Australia (NAA). They may be able to provide more information about his unit and rank.