Hartree, Alfred William

14496 Private Alfred William Hartree - 5th Australian Motor Transport Company AIF

Alfred William Hartree was born in Fremantle WA on the 26th April 1898 to Alfred and Matilda Hartree. He was one of six siblings born into the family.

Alfred was educated in Fremantle and after leaving school took up work as a Grocer. During this time he had served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces.

The family were living at 34 Rose Street South Fremantle. (Later renamed 2 Rose Street)

On the 16th April 1917, Alfred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - 142lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-34 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Hazel;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment, Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Australian Army Service Corps reinforcements and was sent to New South Wales to complete his training.

On the 1st August 1917 Alfred departed from Sydney Harbour aboard the transport ship SS Orita and set sail for England. They sailed via Canada, arriving at Halifax on the 21st September 1917. After a short stay they then proceeded on to England, arriving at Liverpool on the 3rd October 1917.

Alfred was then disembarked and was sent to the Army Service Corps base camp at Parkhouse. Alfred would have the next six months in England, training and working for the AASC bases.

On the 1st April 1918 he was sent across to England and was sent to the base camp at Le Harvre. On the 11th April 1918 he was taken on strength of the 5th Motor Transport Company. This unit transported supplies from bases to units nearer the front line.

Alfred was with this unit for the remainder of the war and had his first break in March 1919, when he was granted a fortnight's furlough to the UK. He then arrived back in France in April 1919. He would remain working in France till June 1919 when he returned to England.

On arrival in England he was put to work with the Motor Transport Company AASC. He then continued his work in England for the next few months. On the 3rd September 1919 he boarded the transport ship Barambah and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 12th October 1919.

Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 17th November 1919.

Not long after returning home, Alfred signed up for the Permanent Forces and was assigned to the Fremantle Artillery Barracks and Arthur's Head.

He was a member of the Permanent Australian forces with the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery till the late 1920's. He then went to work as a Carrier and moved to Claremont for a short period.

In 1933 Alfred married Alma May Newman in Fremantle and they took up residence in Stock Road Fremantle. He also had a business operating out of 76 High Stret Fremantle, AW & WA Yellow Carrying and Parcel Express.

In 1937 his Father died in Fremantle. Sadly Alfred was a witness to his father being fatally hit while crossing the road. From the Fremantle Advocate 11th February 1937;

CORONERS INQUEST

MAN ACCIDENTALLY KILLED

BY CYCLIST

An inquiry was held at the Fremantle Courthouse yesterday before the acting coroner (Mr. J. H. Payne J.P.) into the circumstances surrounding the death of Alfred Grove Hartree, who was knocked down by a push cycle and died shortly afterwards in the Fremantle Hospital. After hearing the evidence, the coroner found that death was the result of an accident, no blame being attachable to the rider of the cycle.
James Godfrey Petersen said that he was riding a cycle along Queen Victoria street, near Burt street, and noticed an old man crossing the road. He did not ring his bell because he considered that there was ample room for him to pass between the man and a truck that was alongside the kerb.
The man started to run and witness tried to avoid him by swerving. He struck the pedestrian, being unable to maneouvre the cycle to avoid a collision, and they both fell to the ground.
Alfred William Hartree, of Bicton, a son of the deceased, said that he was travelling in his motor truck towards Fremantle when he saw his father hail him from the other side of the road: He pulled up the truck and waited by the kerb for his father to cross the road, but when the old man had almost reached the truck a push cycle, travelling towards Fremantle, struck him and knocked him to the ground.
Evidence was given by Dr. A. R. Bean, police surgeon, that deceased died from a fracture of the base of the skull and laceration and hemorrhage of the brain.
 
 

Alfred also served in World War Two. He was accepted for service and given the number W244060. Alfred was part of the Instructional Training Staff in Fremantle and Northam through 1940-41.

Alfred was discharged at his own request in November 1941.

The family lived at Stock Road through to the 1960's before moving to Kitchener Road Alfred Cove in the 1960's. They then moved to Bristol avenue in Bicton.

His wife Alma died in 1985; and Alfred died on the 2nd August 1986 aged 88. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.

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