Henry DE MELKER

Regimental number	485
Place of birth	Cape Town, South Africa
Other Names	DE MELKER, John Henry Wiltch
School	State Schools, South and West Melbourne and Thorpdale, Victoria
Age on arrival in Australia	3.11
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Farmer
Address	Traralgon, Victoria
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	32
Height	5' 9"
Weight	154 lbs
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs Margaret Murray, Traralgon, Victoria
Previous military service	Served in the Australian Light Horse, Trafalgar and Moe, Victoria.
Enlistment date	26 August 1914
Place of enlistment	Broadmeadows, Victoria
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	8th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/25/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal Roll	Sergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll	60th Battalion
Fate	Killed in Action 19 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records	34
Place of burial	No known grave
Commemoration details	V.C. Corner (Panel No 18), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,   Australian War Memorial	169
Miscellaneous information from   cemetery records	Parents: Margaret Murray (formerly DE MELKER), Shannagarry, Traralgon, Victoria, and the late Gerit Cornelious DE MELKER. Native of Cape of Good Hope, South Afric
Other details	War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915. Appointed Lance Corporal, 28 April 1915; promoted Corporal, 28 August 1915; appointed Temporary Sergeant, 26 November 1915; reverted to permanent rank of Corporal, 7 December 1915. Appointed Temporary Sergeant, 8 December 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation). Promoted Sergeant, 23 February 1916. Transferred to 60th Bn, and taken on strength, 24 February 1916. Admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance, 20 March 1916 (dental cavies); transferred to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 20 March 1916; discharged to unit, 26 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 3050205F: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Sources	NAA: B2455, DE MELKER Henry  Red Cross File No 3050205F