| Service number | 275 |
|---|---|
| Ranks Held | Lieutenant, Private, Sergeant |
| Birth Date | 1881-08-07 |
| Birth Place | Australia: Victoria, Borung |
| Death Date | 1968-02-07 |
| Death Place | Australia: New South Wales, Albury |
| Final Rank | Lieutenant |
| Service | Australian Imperial Force |
| Units |
|
| Places | |
| Conflict/Operation | First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Gazettes |
Published in London Gazette in 1917-06-01 Published in London Gazette in 1918-09-16 Published in London Gazette in 1917-05-11 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-02-12 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-08-27 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-10-04 |
Lieutenant Albert Chalmers Borella
Description
In 1918 Albert Borella (1881-1968) led a platoon in an attack to straighten the front line beyond Villers-Bretonneux, from which a major British offensive was to be launched a few weeks later. While ahead of his troops, he single-handedly captured a machine-gun. Then, after clearing a trench and dug-outs, he inspired his men to hold out during heavy enemy counter-attacks. Borella had earlier received the Military Medal and been Mentioned in Despatches.
Although he had enlisted in Townsville (from Darwin), after the war he lived in Victoria as a farmer. Borella also served in the Second World War, and afterwards settled in Albury, New South Wales.
Collection items
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
- London Gazette
- 11 May 1917 on page 4600 at position 12
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 27 August 1917 on page 1828 at position 28
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
- London Gazette
- 01 June 1917 on page 5422 at position 32
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 04 October 1917 on page 2624 at position 44
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
- London Gazette
- 16 September 1918 on page 11075 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 12 February 1919 on page 262 at position 9
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
Timeline
| Date of birth | 07 August 1881 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) | 15 March 1915 | A Company, 26th Battalion. |
| Date of embarkation | 24 May 1915 | |
| Other | 08 September 1915 | Admitted to hospital in Egypt. |
| Date of recommendation honour or award | 1916 | |
| Other | 05 February 1916 | Rejoined his unit. |
| Other | 1916-03 | Sailed for France |
| Date wounded | 29 July 1916 | Wounded in the Battle of Pozieres. |
| Date of recommendation honour or award | 1917 | |
| Date of honour or award | 1917-02 | Although he was recommended for a higher award, he was Mentioned in Despatches for 'devototion to duty and general good work in the trenches'. |
| Date of honour or award | 1917-03 | Awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in action during the attack on Malt Trench, north of Warlencourt. |
| Date of recommendation honour or award | 11 March 1917 | |
| Date of honour or award | 1918-07-17 - 1918-07-18 | Took part in an assault on a trench at Villers-Bretonneux for which he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order. The award was upgraded to the Victoria Cross. |
| Date of recommendation honour or award | 25 July 1918 | |
| Date of recommendation honour or award | 31 July 1918 | |
| Other | 1918-08 | Evacuated sick. |
| Date returned to Australia | 06 November 1918 | |
| Other | 23 February 1919 | AIF appointment ended. |
| Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) | 1939 | Appointed to the Army and carried out guard duties for prisoners of war. |
| Date of discharge | 1945 | Discharged with the rank of captain. |
| Date of death | 07 February 1968 | Buried with full military honours in the Presbyterian cemetery in Albury, New South Wales. |
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