Bamkin, Bert Conley
No.4975 Private Bert Conley Bamkin – 23rd Battalion AIF
Bert Conley Bamkin was born in Melbourne Victoria on the 11th November 1886 to Mr. and Mrs. John William Bamkin. While he was still young the family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in East Fremantle. John William Bamkin had a store at 14 Henderson Street Fremantle, later moving to 268 High Street.
Bert was educated in Fremantle and the family soon moved to Hulbert Street South Fremantle. Bert’s father took up a large role in the local community and became well known through the district. The family also attended the Wesley Church in Market Street.
After leaving school Bert found work as a Builder and on the 5th September 1906 he married Lillian Bell in Fremantle. They lived in South Terrace South Fremantle for the next few years as in 1909 Bert was still on the Fremantle electoral roll. In 1911 Bert and Lillian were living in Maitland Street Dunedin New Zealand but it appears they were only there for a short time as by 1914 they were living in Fitzroy Victoria.
On the 17th February 1916 Bert went into Melbourne to enlist in the AIF. He was found to be physically fit for service with the medical officer recording Bert’s attributes as; height of 5 feet 7 & ½ inches tall; weight of 124lbs; chest measurement of 35-36 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Baptist.
After his successful enlistment Bert was sent to the 10th Depot Battalion at Ascot Vale. He remained with this unit until the 8th April 1916 when he was transferred into “B” Company of the 23rd Depot Battalion at Royal Park. He spent another few weeks with this group but on the 27th April 1916 he was transferred to the 13th Reinforcements to the 23rd Battalion AIF. This group trained at Broadmeadows Camp for the next few months while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. These finally came through and on the 19th July 1916 Bert and his group boarded the HMAT Armadale in Port Melbourne and set sail for England. The journey to England took two months as the ship embarked in Devonport Harbour on the 20th September 1916. After being disembarked Bert and his group were marched into the 6th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plain.
Bert had two months of training in England but on the 20th November 1916 he was put in a draft of soldiers for France. Bert travelled to Folkestone Harbour where he boarded a troopship for the journey across the Channel. On arrival in Etaples Bert was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. He had a further ten days here but then marched out to join his unit. Bert was officially taken on strength of the 23rd Battalion on the 2nd December 1916.
The 23rd Battalion were then situated in freezing cold conditions on the Somme near the ruined village of Flers. The cold weather soon had an effect on Bert as he was evacuated with Bronchitis on the 22nd December 1916. He was sent to the 2nd Field Ambulance for treatment and then was transferred to the Anzac Corps Rest Station. Bert returned to the 23rd Battalion on the 6th January 1917. On the 1st February 1917 Bert again reported ill and after being sent to the 13th Field Ambulance he was diagnosed with influenza. He was then sent to the 2nd Division Rest Station and re-joined his unit on the 14th February 1917.
It was at this stage of the war that the Germans began their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and Bert’s Battalion were one of the units that followed up this retreat through February and March 1917.
On the 11th April an unsuccessful attack was made on Bullecourt and a further assault was then planned for early May. On May 3rd 1917 the 5th and 6th Brigades of the 2nd Division were tasked with breaking through the Hindenburg Line to capture Bullecourt and Reincourt. The 5th Brigade failed to breach the line but the 6th Brigade was successful. Bert’s 23rd Battalion was in the forefront of the assault and casualties were heavy. During the advance it appears that Bert was very badly wounded. A Private Holden had helped bandage Bert and assisted him to get out of a shellhole but they got separated when making back for the Australian lines. It appears Bert was either mortally wounded or hit again as nothing more was seen of him.
Bert was initially labelled as Wounded and Missing but this was later changed to Killed in Action. Unfortunately Bert has no known grave and is among the thousands of Australian soldiers who have no known resting place. His name is therefore recorded on the 23rd Battalion panel on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His wife Lillian put an in memoriam notice in the paper which would make a suitable epitaph for Bert.
Honourably he lived;
Noble he died;
My Hero, My Comrade, My All.
The Honour Roll in Wesley Church Fremantle