Andrews, Alferd George

6714 Private Alfred George Andrews – 11^th Battalion AIF

Alfred George Andrews was born in Fremantle WA in 1875 to Alfred and Elizabeth Andrews. He was educated locally and after leaving school he took up work at Fremantle Harbour as a Lumper. In 1900 he married Emily Bennett in Fremantle though they soon moved north to Geraldton, where Alfred secured employment on the Geraldton Wharves, and he also served in the local Geraldton Volunteers, a militia unit. In 1903 a daughter Eileen was born followed in 1906 by Harold, Doreen in 1907, James in 1908, Clarence in 1909 and Stanley in 1913. Unfortunately their first born, Eileen died in 1909.

Prior to the Great War, the Andrews returned to Fremantle, where they took up residence at 13 Hubble Street East Fremantle.

Despite having a family and being 40 years old, Alfred enlisted into the AIF in East Fremantle on the 2^nd March 1916. He was given a medical examination by Dr. Blaxland who passed him as fit for service. Dr. Blaxland recorded Alfred’s physical attributes as;

Height:                                     5 feet 5 & ½ inches;

Weight:                                    136lbs;

Chest Measurement:               34 inches;

Complexion:                            Fair;

Eyes:                                       Blue;

Hair:                                        Fair;

Religious Denomination:         Roman Catholic

Distinctive Marks:                    Scar on right elbow

Though Alfred enlisted in March 1916 he didn’t have to report to camp straight away and it wasn’t until five months later, on the 2^nd August 1916 that he reported to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially allotted to No.80 Depot where for the next week he was taken through the infantry basics. On the 9^th August Alfred was assigned to the 23^rd Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group until the 4^th September 1916 when he was transferred into the 22^nd Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. Alfred would train with this group in WA for a further two months while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. These finally came through and on the 9^th November 1916 Alfred and his group boarded the HMAT Argyllshire and set sail for England. After a two month sea voyage they arrived at Devonport Harbour England on the 10^th January 1917. The men were then disembarked and sent to the 3^rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains.

Alfred trained here for the next few weeks but on the 2^nd February he reported sick. He was sent to Fargo Military Hospital where he was diagnosed with pleurisy. On the 10^th February he was transferred to Sutton Veny Hospital. Alfred spent the next ten days here but on the 20^th February he was transferred to the 2^nd Southern General Hospital in Bristol where he was also diagnosed as suffering from bronchitis. Alfred remained here for over three weeks, eventually returning to the 3^rd Training Battalion on the 20^th March 1917.

Alfred recommenced his training but this soon brought about another trip to the hospital. On the 12^th April at Fargo Military Hospital he was diagnosed with synovitis of the right knee. Alfred would spend the next month in hospital, being released on the 18^th May 1917.

It appears that Alfred’s fitness was downgraded that he would not be sent to the Western Front. Along with the decline in his fitness the Military Authorities had received a letter from Alfred’s wife asking him to be returned to Western Australia as she was in poor health, and was battling trying to look after their children. For the next few months Alfred would remain in camps in England, waiting for a berth on a ship returning to Australia. On the 25^th August 1917 he boarded the transport ship Benalla and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 17^th October 1917. After a medical check up at No.8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle, Alfred was released and sent home. He was officially discharged from the AIF on the 9^th November 1917.

Alfred had rejoined his family and in 1920 another son, Norman was born. The Andrews continued to live in the Fremantle area for the next thirty years. Alfred George Andrews died on the 14^th March 1947 and is buried in Fremantle Cemetery in plot RC MON C4 0131. His wife Emily died on the 30^th November 1967.