BASING Alfred Joseph

Alfred Joseph Basing was born in 1896 at Hillgrove NSW, a gold mining town not far from Armidale, the 7th child and 5th son of Frederick and Ellen Basing. He attended Hillgrove Public School. In 1914 his older brother Walter and his uncle Harry enlisted and both served at Gallipoli, where Walter was lucky enough not to be wounded, but his Uncle Harry was seriously wounded and spent a long time in hospital in England. Alfred had just turned 19 when he enlisted at Enoggera, he had previously applied but was rejected as unfit because of imperfect eyes and teeth. He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall with fair complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and of the Church of England faith. He left for Europe as a member of A Company 42nd Battalion some time early in 1916, and left Southampton on 15th October 1916 after training in England. He remained with A company of 42nd Battalion until on 10th June 1917 he was wounded in action, a gunshot wound to the neck, and died of those wounds three days later on 13th June 1917, and was buried at TROIS ARBRES CEMETERY, STEENWERCK in Belguim. His parents were at that time living at "West View" West Cooroy, where his father was growing bananas.

Cooroy Cenotaph, Memorial Triangle, Diamond Street, Cooroy

Cooroy District Honor Roll (Supreme Sacrifice), Cooroy Memorial Hall, Maple Street, Cooroy

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)

Australian War Memorial