Private Alexander DEAN (3290)
46th Battalion Australian Infantry

Date of birth: 7th April 1895
Date of death: 20th October 1917

Killed in action aged 22
Buried at Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ypres Plot IV Row D Grave 16
He was born at Piteroy Mills, Blacksboat on the 7th of April 1895 the eldest son of Francis Dean a farmer and his wife Eliza "Lizzie" Russell (nee Cumming) Dean of Delnapot, Blacksboat.

He was educated at Inveravon and at Aberlour.

He went to Australia in January 1915 and settled as a teamster at Buntine Western Australia and lived at 90 Terrance Road, Guildford in Western Australia.

He enlisted at 94 Depot in Buntine on the 17th of November 1916 where recruiting for reinforcing the 46th Battalion was taking place. His medical examination shows he was 5 feet 10 inches tall and that he needed dental treatment.

He was attached to the 8th Reinforcements for the 46th Battalion and sailed for the UK from Freemantle on board the HMAT "Persic" on the 29th of December 1916 landing at Devonport on the 3rd of March 1917. He was then marched to the 12th Training Battalion Depot at Codford arriving there the following day. On the 4th of June 1917 he departed from Folkestone for France and arrived at the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples on the 6th of June. On the 20th of June he marched from Etaples and joined the 46th Battalion in the field on the 21st.

An officer wrote to his parents;-

"Your son was very much liked in the company and is greatly missed by all."

In his will dated the 30th of July 1917 he left all his possessions to his father.

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