COE, Alexander
| Service Number: | 2967 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Lidcombe, Auburn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Workshop Painter |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 25 September 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 2967, 5th Field Ambulance, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 2967, 5th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ajana, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Alexander COE (Service Number 2967), worked as an apprentice on 28 July 1902 in Eveleigh, in the Locomotive Workshops. By 7 December 1907, his apprenticeship expired, but he was later given the position of labourer on 6 July 1908. He made two more changes in position before joining the AIF, to painter in September 1908, and to painter 1st class in November 1913. He joined the AIF on 3 April 1915, and signed up under the name ‘Alec’, rather than Alexander, at the age of 28. He was in the 5th Field Ambulance Unit.
He was later awarded the Military Medal in France on 24 March 1917 for bravery in the field.
Lt. Col. J. S PHIPPS wrote:
‘On the 27th February 1917 at about 12-30 p.m. word was received at LE SARS Advanced Dressing Station, that two men were lying wounded in an exposed position on the BAPAUME ROAD. Sgt Ivor Ling, L/Cpl. Arthur Bailey, Pte. Clive Catt and Pte. Alexander Coe at once proceeded to locate these men This was accomplished after a most dangerous and difficult search of about 800 yards from LE SARS A.D.S., two men of the 22nd Australian Infantry Battalion, attached to the V 2 A.T.M. Battery being found. No. 361 Bomber DODD H. was lying on the side of the road with shell wound in left thigh, and No. 316 Pte. BARTLEY R. was lying in a cellar, into which he had apparently fallen with a fractured skull and unconsciousness. First Aid was rendered, and through heavy shell fire, (Both shrapnel and High Explosive) the patients were conveyed to the Regimental Aid Post, the distance of carrying being 800 yards. Both on the forward and the return journeys several narrow escapes were experienced by the party. Major CHAPMAN, the Officer i/c of the forward A.D.S’s further reports that this squad behaved in an exceptionally cool and courageous manner during the recent operations.
I therefore wish to recommend these men for immediate reward, for untiring and conspicuous devotion to duty, and setting a fine example to those around them.’
Submitted 2 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Alexander COE (Service Number 2967) wqs working as an apprentice on 28tb July 1902 at Eveleigh in the Locomotive Workshops. By 7th December 1907, his apprenticeship had expired. However, he was given the position of labourer on 6th July 1908. He became a painter in September 1908, and was promoted to painter 1st class in November 1913. He joined the AIF on 3rd April 1915, and signed up under the name ‘Alec’, rather than Alexander, at the age of 28. He was in the 5th Field Ambulance Unit. He listed his mother as his next of kin, This would cause controversy following his death.
Alec embarked at Sydney on Transport A40 ‘Ceramic’ on 25th June 1915. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 16tb August 1915.
He proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria(Egypt) on 17th August 1916. He was later awarded the Military Medal in France on 24th March 1917 for bravery in the field.
Lt. Col. J. S PHIPPS wrote:
‘On the 27th February 1917 at about 12-30 p.m. word was received at LE SARS Advanced Dressing Station, that two men were lying wounded in an exposed position on the BAPAUME ROAD. Sgt Ivor Ling, L/Cpl. Arthur Bailey, Pte. Clive Catt and Pte. Alexander Coe at once proceeded to locate these men This was accomplished after a most dangerous and difficult search of about 800 yards from LE SARS A.D.S., two men of the 22nd Australian Infantry Battalion, attached to the V 2 A.T.M. Battery being found. No. 361 Bomber DODD H. was lying on the side of the road with shell wound in left thigh, and No. 316 Pte. BARTLEY R. was lying in a cellar, into which he had apparently fallen with a fractured skull and unconsciousness. First Aid was rendered, and through heavy shell fire, (Both shrapnel and High Explosive) the patients were conveyed to the Regimental Aid Post, the distance of carrying being 800 yards. Both on the forward and the return journeys several narrow escapes were experienced by the party. Major CHAPMAN, the Officer i/c of the forward A.D.S’s further reports that this squad behaved in an exceptionally cool and courageous manner during the recent operations.
I therefore wish to recommend these men for immediate reward, for untiring and conspicuous devotion to duty, and setting a fine example to those around them.’
Alec Coe died from wounds to the abdomen received in action on 25th September 1917 in Belgium. Following his death, there were problems with establishing his next of kin – he had listed his mother. However, it was protocol that his wife be his next of kin. Alec and his wife had split up prior to his enlistment, which explains why she was omitted from his enlistment records. The personal items that were left were a disc, medal ribbons, three coins, scissors, a metal watch, a knife, two purses, a metal match box cover, an electric torch, a photo wallet and photos, and a metal charm. These went to his mother, despite the controversy over his estranged widow. His mother also received the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal in trust for his young daughter. Alexander Coe was buried in Reningheist New Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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