Military History

Embarked at Fremantle per HMAT ‘Benalla’ for Egypt.1.11.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 11th Reinf. 16th Infantry Bn.
Duce disembarked in Egypt with the 16th Bn. he was taken on strength with the 16th Bn at Tel- el-Kebir 7.3.1916. He entrained to o Alexandria, joined the BEF and embarked per HMAT ‘Canada’ for France 1.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseille 9.6.1916. The 16th Bn. fought through a harsh winter in the trenches on the Somme. Duce served at Bullecourt and was reported Missing in Action 11.4.1917. The Court of Enquiry determined he had been KIA at Bullecourt near Hindenburg Line, France 11.4.1917
Duce’s body was not recovered. He is commemorated at the Cemetery Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Area, France.
Final Rank Private, 16th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Dec’d, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes records show some confusion when a soldier from the 51st Bn. was apprehended and thought to be Duce. This was clarified soon after and the records corrected.

Information Source
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Guildford Grammar School War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Duce E
AWM Embarkation Rolls- Eric Duce
AWM Roll of Honour – Eric Duce
AWM Red Cross File- Eric Duce

Boyanup. WA.