Attwater, Alfred John

344 Private Alfred John Attwater - 1st Machine Gun Company AIF

Alfred John Attwater was born in Horsham Sussex England on the 27th March 1871 to Samuel and Caroline Attwater. He was one of four siblings born into the family.

Alfred was educated in Sussex and after leaving school became a horse driver. He would also spend thirteen years serving with the 14th Hussars.

In July 1894 he married Ellen Laura Upton at Preston St Saviour in Sussex England and they would have several children, Ethel (1894), Percy (1896), Harold (1900), Dorothy (1906), Frederick (1908) and Alfred (1915).

From 1894 to 1900 the family lived at Hayward Heath Sussex and then moved to Steyning in Sussex.

They then moved to South Africa for a few years, living at Sterkfontein. In 1911 they returned to Sussex and prior to the Great War moved to Australia, settling in Fremantle and residing in Paget Street.

Alfred enlisted in to the Australian Imperial Force on the 4th January 1916. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;

Weight - 140lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-38 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Sandy.

Upon his successful enlistment Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He then spent some time in the depot training camp and was then assigned to the 4th Reinforcements to the 4th Machine Gun Company. He left Fremantle Harbour with this reinforcement group aboard the transport ship HMAT Miltiades on the 9th August 1916. After the long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 25th September 1916.

After being disembarked Alfred and his group were sent to the Machine Gun Training Depot at Grantham. Alfred spent the next six months in England and on the 10th March 1917 was sent across to France.

After a few more weeks at the Machine Gun Depot Camp at Camiers France, Alfred was taken on strength of the 1st Machine Gun Company on the 28th April 1917.

Alfred served with his unit at the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917 and came through unscathed. His unit were then sent on a three month rest period from the front line and much of June to August 1917 was taken up by training and sporting activities.

In September 1917 the 1st Machine Gun Company moved to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres from September to November 1917. Alfred served at the Battle of Menin Road on September 20th 1917 and subsequent actions at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele.

Alfred came through this time safely and on the 20th October 1917 he was given a two week furlough to England, rejoining his unit near Passchendaele on the 10th November 1917.

From December 1917 to March 1918 the Australians were sent south east of Ypres near Hollebeke to hold the front line. On the 26th December 1917 Alfred fell ill with bronchitis and was sent to the 14th General Hospital at Etaples. On the 2nd January 1918 he was transported to England and was then admitted to Queen Mary's Hospital at Whalley.

Alfred had a month in this hospital and on the 4th February 1918 was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He had a further week here and was then released. He was then given a two week furlough after which he reported into No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.

Alfred was given a full medical assessment while at Weymouth and it appears that the medical authorities decided that due to his age and health he should be returned to Australia.

On the 17th June 1918 Alfred boarded a transport ship and set sail for home. After arriving back in Fremantle Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 4th September 1918.

Upon his arrival home Alfred resumed his work as a Gardener and returned to his family in Paget Street.

In the early 1920's the family moved to Leederville

Alfred died at Perth Hospital on the 27th February 1931 aged 63. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican NA 0182.