Angove, Alfred James
4248 Corporal Alfred James Angove - 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company
Alfred James Angove was born in Moonta South Australia on the 30th December 1884 to Thomas and Mary Angove. He was one of thirteen siblings born into the family. (On his enlistment form Alfred lists his birthplace as Fremantle)
He was educated in South Australia and after leaving school took up work in the mining district.
On the 11th February 1906 Alfred married Beatrice Etta Bray and a daughter Beatrice was born in 1906 and then Samuel in 1912.
Alfred worked as a miner but the family lived at 33 Arundle Street Fremantle (later renumbered 19 Arundel).
On the 6th March 1916 Alfred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical officer recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 158lbs;
Chest Measurement - 37-38 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Alfred was sent to No.53 Training Depot at Blackboy Hill Camp. He only spent a week at the training depot and was then assigned as a Sapper to the 6th Tunnelling Company. He trained with this group in WA for the next few months. During this time Alfred was promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal. The unit left Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship HMAT Warilda on the 1st June 1916.
During the voyage to England Alfred was reduced to the ranks for being absent from a parade. However in 1918 it was shown that the court martial was wrongly conducted so Alfred's punishment was quashed and his rank was reinstated.
The ship finally arrived in Plymouth England on the 19th July 1916.
After being disembarked the men were then sent to Perham Downs Camp.
The 4th, 5th & 6th Australian Tunnelling Companies were now broken up in England and the men sent to reinforce No.1, 2 or 3 Australian Tunnelling Companies.
On the 28th August 1916 Alfred was sent to France and was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. He was then sent for duty with the 1st Anzac Entrenching battalion.
In early October 1916 Alfred was attached for duty with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company. He was wounded while with this unit and was then sent for medical attention to the 4th London Field Ambulance and then the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. He was then sent to the 1st Convalescent Depot and was then returned to the Base Depot Camp.
Alfred remained at the base camp till the 13th February 1917 and was then sent to England. He remained in England through 1917 on duty as various base camps and was attached for duty with the Australian Army Service Corps and then the Australian Army Medical Corps. Alfred was not yet fit enough to return to France so had been retained on duty in England in 1917.
Due to his health not improving it was decided to return Alfred to Australia. On the 1st February 1918 Alfred boarded the transport ship Balmoral Castle and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 18th March 1918.
Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 10th June 1918.
He then returned home. A daughter Dorothy had been born in 1917 after he had left for France and after he returned home further children were born in, Lily 1919, Mary 1920, Olive 1923 and Roma 1926.
The family had lived in Fremantle till 1921 but then moved to Manjimup before returning to Fremantle. Alfred had been working as a Lumper at Fremantle Harbour.
They were living at 12 Pearse Street North Fremantle
Alfred Angove died on the 13th February 1934 aged 49. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Salvation Army Mon JJ 0066