Lieutenant A.V. Auchterlonie, AIF Clicking on Photo will return to Page A - B

AUCHTERLONIE Lieutenant Archibald Vivian 25th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force Born 3rd June 1892, in Gympie, Queensland. Educated: 'Good secondary education' / One Mile School, Gympie Queensland Single; Civil servant / Telegraphist, of Gympie / Telegraph Office, Townsville, Queensland Next Of Kin: Father; Archibald Auchterlonie. Mother; Elizabeth Auchterlonie (nee Toms), of Gympie / 'Fiona' Marne Road, Albion, Brisbane, Queensland Photos of Lieutenant Auchterlonie are known to exist in the following locations: The Australasian 27 Nov 1915 pii. The Queenslander 11 Dec 1915 p25. Sydney Mail 22 Dec 1915 p18

All three sons of the Auchterlonie family enlisted in the A.I.F. All were killed.

Brothers;
Robert George Auchterlonie b. 21 Jun 1886 d. 18 Jul 1886
Bertrand Innes Auchterlonie b. 3 Jul 1894
Cecil Arthur Auchterlonie b. 21 Jan 1896
Roy Auchterlonie b. 17 Aug 1900

Sisters; Ruby Auchterlonie b. 14 May 1885
Elsie Auchterlonie b. 16 Oct 1887
Mabel Auchterlonie b. 2 Mar 1889
Barbara Ellen Auchterlonie b. 16 Jun 1898


From electoral register, Gympie Qld, 1899.
75, Archibald Aucterlonie [sic], resident, Inglewood.
76, Thomas Aucterlonie, resident, Graham Street, One-mile.

Previously served 2 years in junior cadets, 1 year in senior cadets, 6 weeks in 2nd Battalion, AN&MEF.
Embarked from Townsville for Thursday Island, then on the 'Kanowna' on 16th August 1914, but returned to Townsville on 19 August because of trouble with the ship's firemen. Was sergeant from 8th August 1914 till disbandment on 17 September 1914.

At time of AIF enlistment was a provisional Lieutenant in the senior cadets.

Brothers;
Lieutenant Cecil Arthur Auchterlonie, 25th Battalion, 22yrs (MC & Bar) KIA , Villers-Brettoneux 10th Aug 1918.
1702 Sergeant Bertrand Innes Auchterlonie, 15th Battalion, 21 yrs, KIA 8 Aug 1915.

Promoted Lieutenant 1 June 1915. Embarked at Brisbane aboard HMAT 'Aeneas', 29 June 1915.

'At the time he was in charge of one line of our fire trench and was busy instructing some of his men how to properly place some sandbags on the parapet of the trench. This caused him to put his head over the parapet, and, owing to weakness, resultant upon a long spell of dysentery, he had difficulty in adjusting the bags. He had just fixed them to his liking, remarking at the time, 'Gee, I am weak', and while preparing to come down from the firestep the fatal bullet lodged fair in the back of his head. He quietly collapsed on the firestep - dead.' (CSM Louis Teitzel, telegraphist of Warwick, kia 29 Jul 1916, letter, Jan 1916, in Doneley p28).

'Lt. 'Doc' Auchterlonie had developed a fine reputation for his fairness, consideration and ability, and his loss was felt keenly in the battalion. 'The last word I can write of 'Doc' is gentleman in large letters' ' [Teitzel] (Doneley p28).

Killed by gunshot wound in head when in fire trench. Originally buried at Chailak Dere No. 2 burial ground, by Chaplain R. H. Cattell [sic].
His identity disc was found at 'Chunuk Bair' by Captain Bigwither, NZEF, and handed over to Australian HQ, Egypt.

Bodies in the Apex cemetery were exhumed after the war and moved to Embarkation Pier cemetery. At the time of the removal of the remains, it was not possible to positively identify Lieutenant Auchterlonie's body, and he was consequently given a 'special memorial', headstone is marked 'Believed to be buried in this cemetery'.

'Does Anybody Know? A. Auchterlonie, Inglewood Hill, Gympie, would be glad of any information concerning Sergeant Bertrand I. Auchterlonie, No. 1072, 15th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements, A.I.F., who was reported wounded and missing on August 7 or 8 inst.' (Brisbane Courier 23 Oct 1915 p5).

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