Axel Oscar Polsson

Axel Oscar Polsson, often spelt as ‘Poulsen’ enlisted at Port Kembla on 14 August 1914. He was almost 20 years of age.

According to documents on the National Australian Archives, his mother Carolina Polsson, siblings Hilda Evaline Polsson, Frank Edward Polsson and Mary Sophie Polsson lived in Mount Morgan. It can be assumed that the family moved there not long before the war as Axel attended Dapto School in 1905.

Prior to enlisting, he worked as an electrical mechanic and was a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites, Queensland district.

He recorded in detail, his service at Gallipoli. Read excerpts from the diary.

Axel was wounded in action at the Dardanelles. He subsequently died on 10 May 1915 at Gallipoli and is buried at Lone Pine Memorial and commemorated at the Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey as well as panel 34 at the Australian War Memorial.

His death is listed in the Sydney Morning Herald under “Pte A.O Bolsson, 2nd Batt., Mount Morgan.”

The Australian War Memorial is holding “Roll of Honour name projections” at the Hall of Memory. 62 000 names of Australians who gave their lives during the First World War will be projected including Axel Oscar Polssen. The names will be displayed from sunset to sunrise every night and can be seen from the Memorial’s grounds.