Not Forgotten, 6322 Private Alfred GROVES, 28 Battalion AIF, World War 1

Private Alfred Groves, a farmer from Wyalkatchem, was born in Wandsworth in London, the son of Thomas and Sarah Groves of Marlborough, England, arriving in Australia at the age of 19. On 4
September 1916 Private Groves enlisted at Perth at the age of 25 and was placed in the 28th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements. At the time of his enlistment his mother was already widowed. Private Groves embarked from Fremantle on HMAT A34 Persic on 29 December 1916, arriving in England early in March 1917.

In late March Private Groves was admitted to hospital in Salisbury with Rubella. Late in April Alfred Groves was in trouble for being Absent With Out Leave for 3 days, resulting in his forfeiting 9 days’ pay. In June of 1917 Private Groves proceeded to France and was taken on strength with the 28th Battalion on 7 July 1917.

The 28th Battalion was raised at Blackboy Camp in Western Australia on 16 April 1915 from recruits previously earmarked for the 24th Battalion, which was instead being raised in Victoria. For many of the major battles of 1917 the 28th found itself in supporting roles. At the second battle of
Bullecourt between May 3 and May 17 1917, the 28th provided reinforcements who were nonetheless involved in heavy fighting. The 28th went on to attack as part of the third phase at the battle of Menin Road between 20 and 25 September 1917, capturing its objectives in seven minutes, and was in reserve during the capture of Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October. The battalion was also in reserve for the battle of Poelcappelle on 9 October, but with the attack floundering in the mud, it soon became embroiled in the fighting.

The Battle of Menin Road was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army in an attempt to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and also resist fierce German counter-attacks. A feature of this battle was the intensity of the opening British artillery support. The two AIF Divisions sustained 5,013 casualties in the action.
Alfred Groves was killed in action on the first day of the battle of Menin Road near Ypres on 20 September 1917 in Belgium and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Private Groves was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.