ALBERT BORELLA

1881– 1968

He was born at Borung, Victoria, 60 kms NW of Bendigo. After attending state schools at Borung & Wychitella, Borella became a farmer. He also enlisted as a part time soldier in the Victorian Rangers, serving for a period of 18 months. He travelled to Melbourne in early 1910 and became a firefighter, remained in the city until early 1913 when he travelled to the Northern Territory to take up a pastoral lease working a property on the Daly River until early 1915 when his financial situation forced him to leave the land. Borella enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He had to go to some effort to do so because at the outbreak of World War 1 the military authorities were not accepting volunteers from the NT. He accepted a job as a cook for a survey party in Tennant Creek and in 1915 he set out for Darwin to volunteer for active service. With Charlie an aboriginal man he walked 140 kms and swam across flooded rivers. After borrowing a horse at Powell Creek just north of Renner Springs NT he rode to Katherine where he caught the mail coach to the railhead at Pine Creek. He sailed from Darwin to Townsville on March 8th 1915 with 4 other men who were among the firs 15 volunteers for active service from the NT. Initially serving in the ranks as a private, Borella served with the 26th Battalion at Gallipoli from 12th Sept 1915 until being evacuated with jaundice in November. He did not join the unit again until 1916 and then served on the Western Front in France being wounded in battle of Pozieres Heights on July 29th.. He achieved promotion from corporal to Sergeant and then commissioned as an officer. He was awarded the Victoria Cross on 16th Sept 1918.