Lafayette Armagnacq
Lafayette Armagnacq (Service No 4334) was born in Coolgarra, Queensland around 1895.
When Lafayette enlisted he 23 years old, single, working as a labourer, and living at Port Kembla, N.S.W.
He embarked from Sydney on SS Port Napier with 11th Reinforcements, 30th Battalion on 17th November 1916. The troops arrived in England on 29th January 1917 where Lafayette spent some time training.
He arrived in France and saw service on the Western Front. On 10th October 1917, the anniversary of his enlistment, while fighting at Passchendaele Lafayette was wounded. He was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of shrapnel wounds to his face, chest, hands and buttocks. He returned to his unit on 23rd February 1918.
On 25th June 1918 he was admitted to hospital sick and returned to the fighting on 6th July 1918.
While fighting around Peronne he took a prisoner. An article appeared in Smiths Weekly (see below) after the war about 'ratting', the slang name used for taking articles from the enemy. This article resulted in Lafayette writing to the magazine, giving his name and service number. He sent some photos he had taken from his prisoner, a Sergeant Jung, to the newspaper, as he wanted to return them. They were sent to the police in Germany but there is no information to say they reached him.
Lafayette does not appear to have married. He died in Brisbane in 1952.