WITHERS Albert Leonard

Albert Leonard Withers was born on 9th September 1896 at Lismore one of 12 children to parents Daniel and Elizabeth Ann (nee Elphick). Prior to enlistment on 8th October 1917 he had worked as a laborer and stood 5ft 5 inches tall, weighed 132 Lbs with fair complexion, brown eyes and hair. As a Private with 15th Battalion he embarked aboard A14 ‘Euripides’ from Sydney on 31st October 1917 and the ship sailed via Panama. Sadly Albert died following a Cerebral Hemorrhage on 25th November 1917 while the ship was in the Panama Zone. He was buried on land the following day at Colon Cemetery in grave number 8491 and later exhumed and reburied at Corozal American Military Cemetery in Section K, Row 1, and Grave 5. The cemetery is located 5klm north of Panama City. He is commemorated at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra on panel 78. His brother Walter Matthias James Withers had enlisted on 1st February 1916 and served with 15th Battalion in France. He was attached to the 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery when killed in action at Delville Wood on 11th April 1917. He is commemorated at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial and on panel 78 next to his brother at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
First cousin to William Henry Withers who went on the 'Euripides’ in 1918.

Shire of Noosa Roll of Honor, Shire Council Chambers, Pelican Street, Tewantin

Cooran District Soldiers Poster - No 16 in Soldiers who Made the Supreme Sacrifice Australian War Memorial panel 78

Image cropped from "Boys of the Cooran District", John Oxley Library, SLQ, Neg 52168
National Archives - http://www.naa.gov.au
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Australian War Memorial