Archibald Amber
Name: Archibald Amber
Rank: Private
Service Number: 3187
Units Served: 1st Australian Pioneers, 10th Battalion
Personal Details: Archibald Amber was born 20th October 1896 at Payneham to Isaac and Jane (nee Loader) Amber. He was the fifth of six children.
Enlistment Details: Archibald enlisted at Keswick on the 23rd June 1915 he was 18 years and 8 months old. He was 5’ 9½” tall with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Details of his role in the war: Archibald either embarked at Adelaide on HMAT ‘Morea’ on the 26th August, 1915 (Casualty List) or on HMAT ‘Anchises on the 2nd September 1915 (WW1 Embarkation list). From the 13th November 1915 to 26th March 1916 he was in the Middle East. Most of this time was spent either in hospital or on a hospital ship in various locations, suffering from mumps and dysentery. He embarked to join BEF at Alexandria on the 26th March 1916 and disembarked on the 2nd April in Marseilles. He sustained a gun shot wound to the knee in Rouen on 26th July 1916 and was transferred to England, he was discharged in 8th September 1916. He remained in England until he proceeded to France on the 15th March, 1917. During this time he was awarded 168 hours detention after he failed to return to parade after having been fallen out to get his great-coat. On the 4th April 1917 he joined his unit in Etaples. From the 1st August to the 16th October 1917 he was once again in hospital suffering from PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin) He rejoined his unit and was killed in Belgium on the 23rd October 1917, three days after his 21st Birthday. The history of the 10th Battalion shows that they were engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres at the time of his death. The Red Cross enquiry states that he was killed by a shell just above Anzac Ridge and was carried down and buried at Belgian Chateau
Age at Death: 21 years
Burial Details: Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery Grave Ref: II.D.5
