Eric Claude Main

ERIC CLAUDE MAIN
Eric Claude Main was the eldest son of May Main of “The Nook” Tranmere Terrace, South Australia, and Mark Main of 2 Virginia Flats 77-79 McLeay Street Potts Point Sydney. He embarked from Sydney, on 20th April 1916, on the SS Hawkes Bay. He was educated at Fort Street Public School Brisbane, and attained the rank of Second Lieutenant before leaving Sydney. His occupation was listed as Insurance Manager. In September 1916 he was listed as missing at the battle of Mouquet Farm, Pozieres in France. Mouquet Farm was known as” Moo Cow” Farm to the Australian soldiers. There were conflicting reports about his disappearance. A couple of soldiers said he had been taken prisoner, when advancing too quickly, at Mouquet Farm. A stretcher bearer said he had found him badly injured, lying on the battle field, and dragged him into a shell hole. He had patched him up as best he could, but confirmed he was terribly injured from machine gun fire. As he left him two more shells fell in that same area, and when he looked again he was unable to find the 2nd Lieutenant. He was 26 years old. When he was listed as missing, the army received requests from The Bank of Adelaide, in London. Requests for information were received from a Miss Deakin and a Mrs. Harvey. His body was never found and his name is listed on the memorial at: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.

Sources
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryV...
https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/192942
https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1053096--1-.pdf
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1648802/