BACKMAN, Oscar
| Service Number: | 431 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1915, at Keswick |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Adelaide, South Australia, January 1888 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 16 February 1943, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: 6S, Site No: 4 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Moonta Corporation of The Town of Moonta Roll of Honour, Moonta Mines Public School Roll of Honour WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 431, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Keswick | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 431, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 431, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 16 Dec 1918: | Discharged 431, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Oscar Backman was born in Port Adelaide, South Australia sometime in January 1888. He worked as a labourer and lived with his wife at 107 North Terrace, Adelaide. At 27 he joined the Australian Imperial Force on 5 July 1915 enlisting with the 32nd Battalion B Company. Oscar had previously served in the South Australian Infantry Regiment. He was 5 foot 6.25 tall and weighed 139 lbs. His wife Mrs. O. J. Backman was his next of kin.
Oscar started serving with the 32nd Battalion B Company and embarked for service on 18 November 1915 aboard the H.M.A.T Geelong. Later on in his service he switched to the 10th Battalion on 14 March 1916 and then joined the 8th Australian Machine Gun Company on 4 November 1916. He was also part of the 3rd Australian Machine Gun Company. In March 1917 Oscar was transferred to the 1st Division Machine Gun Company. In October 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
In May 1918 Oscar sent to the UK due to illness and went to Tankerton Hospital. On September 19, 1918 Oscar went AWL (absent without leave) and was reprimanded by receiving a punishment of 1 day suspended pay. Oscar returned to Australia on 9 December 1918 after three years and 290 days of service and lived the rest of his life in Adelaide. On the 16th of February 1943 Oscar died from unknown causes and was buried West Terrace Cemetery.
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