Bertram James Potter

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 09/07/2014 - 12:42

First Name:

Bertram

Middle Name:

James

Last Name:

Potter

Alternate Spelling:

Bertie

Mother's Name:

Ellen Potter

Father's Name:

James Potter

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, March 24, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

20th Battalion

Company:

D Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Star 1914/15

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, April 8, 1918

Place of Death:

Hangard Wood, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Bertram “Bertie” James Potter was born c. 1894 to James and Ellen Potter in Nellies Glenn, Katoomba New South Wales.

Bertie had military experience prior to enlisting. He served in the 27th Infantry citizen forces and worked as a motor mechanic.

He was living in Helensburgh with his family when he enlisted on 24 March 1915 at the age of 21 and embarked on 8 April 1918. He joined the 20th Battalion, D Company subsequently serving in Gallipoli and France.

According to the National Australian Archives, he was promoted to Corporal on 13 December 1916.

Bertie was wounded in action twice. The first was on 5 August 1918 and he remained on duty. The second time on 7 April 1918 he received gunshot wounds to the right hip and right hand and was admitted to the 1st South African General Hospital, France. He subsequently died from the wounds and the hospital ceased to exist not long after. Records on the National Australian Archives website show Bertie’s mother writing in order to receive more information about her son.

Jim Duffy, a neighbour of Bertie and his mother during the war recalled the aftermath of his dead to the Illawarra History Group. He stated that his mother cried every day because her baby was never coming home. He also recalls that one day some years after the war she was informed that the ship carrying all of Bertie’s personal effects was sunk. She said that she had nothing left of her son and the war had taken her son completely.

Bertie is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Abbeville, Picardie, France and is commemorated at Panel 92 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

NB. This image has been shared by Wollongong City Gallery following the War and Remembrance project (October 2003 – January 2004).

The purpose of the project was to acknowledge the contributions of Illawarra residents in various wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions from the Boer War to the present day.

If anyone has any information or additional photographs of these soldiers and nurses, please contact us.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, POTTER BERTRAM JAMES