Military History

Embarked Fremantle HMAT ‘Geelong’ for Egypt.
Roll Rank Private
Roll Unit 32nd Infantry Battalion ‘C’ Company.
Copley disembarked at Suez with the 32nd Battalion ‘C’ Company 18.12.1915. After a period of intensive training, he transferred to the No.8 Machine Gun Company from the 32nd Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir 9.3.1916. He entrained to Alexandria and embarked per ‘Tunisian’ with the British Expeditionary Force for France 16.6.1916 and disembarked at Marseilles 23.6.1916. Copley was taken on strength with his Division and fought at Fleurbaix south of Armentieres. Copley and his mate took over the captured machine guns in the German first line at Fromelles. Copley was hit by shot fire in his chest and seriously wounded.  His mate Mellow who was sniping with him in the trenches at Fromelles,  saw him shot and wounded and was then shot himself. (Australian War Memorial Red Cross File). Initially reported KIA by his unit 20.7.1916, he was later recorded as Prisoner of War in German hands at Stappen Lazarette Valenciennes, France. He was reported as having died of wounds as a POW 25.7.1916 from Shrapnel Wounds received in action to the lungs. Copley was buried at the Cemetery of Honour at Valenciennes 25.7.1916, in a common grave- Grave F, coffin 74. His remains were exhumed and reinterred to St. Roch Communal Cemetery, Valenciennes, Nord Pas de Calais, France, Plot 4, Row D, Grave 23.
Final Rank Private 8th Machine Gun Company.
Medical Condition Deceased, died from wounds received action.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes
He bids us to watch and be ready,
Nor suffer our light to go dim.
Then when he may come he may find us
All waiting and watching for him’
(West Australian Newspapers In Memoriam 25.7.1919)

Photo  Copley, Allan Wallace. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P09291.142
            'C' Company 32nd Bn. Allan W. Copley front right (DOW). Back row 2nd from right Ernest Mellows who was shot with Copley in Fromelles. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P09291.480
            HMAT 'Geelong' at Alexandria. Photographer Schuler P.E.F. photograph source AWM PS0366
           
The SunFromelles- No Man's Land 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04030
           The Sun (Kalgoorlie) 10.9.1916 p6

Information Source
AWM P09291.480. 'C' Company 32nd Bn. Allan W. Copley front right (DOW). Back row 2nd from right Ernest Mellows who was shot with Copley in Fromelles. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM PS0366. MAT 'Geelong' at Alexandria. Photographer Schuler P.E.F. photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial 
AWM E04030. Fromelles- No Man's Land 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Allan Wallace Copley
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour- Allan Wallace Copley
Australian War Memorial Red Cross File- Allan Wallace Copley
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Guildford Grammar School War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Copley A W
The Sun
West Australian Newspape



Cottesloe, WA.

Associated Images