Alfred Gittins

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	North Perth, Western Australia
Death	27 Nov 1938, aged 46
Place of Death	Belmont
Age at Enlistment	24 years, 7 months
Description	5'5 ½" (1.66m) tall; weight 146 lbs (66.2 kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair
Occupation	brickmaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Alfred Gittens
Military Information
Reg Number	7450
Date of Enlistment	27 Mar 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 25th Reinforcement / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	29 Jun 1917 - 25 Jul 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A30 Borda
Date of Return	12 Dec 1918 - 18 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A71 Nestor
Fate	Wounded in Action 19 Apr 1918 near Hebuterne Wounded in Action 4 Jul 1918 returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries 1916 & 1917 list him as a woodcutter in Karragullen.

War Service

When Alfred first offers himself, he is found to be unfit for military service However, The Camp Chronicle 5 Apr 1917 p.3 records that he has accepted the call to colours.

On arrival in England undertook training with the 4th Training Battalion in Codford. On completion, Alfred was shipped to France on 30 Jan 1918 and joined the 16th Battalion on 9 Feb 1918.

On 19 Apr 1918 he suffered a GSW to his left leg and was treated at 1/3 EL Field Ambulance before being admitted to the 8th General Hospital in Rouen from which he was discharged on 24 Apr.

He returned to his battalion on 30 Apr 1918 but contracted Influenza and spent time with 12th Australian Field Ambulance, and 47th Casualty Clearing Station before again rejoining his unit on 4 Jun 1918.

Wounded in action again, this time a shell wound to the left side of his chest on July 4th, requiring treatment by 4th Australian Field Ambulance, 5th Casualty Clearing Station, and the 12th General Hospital in Rouen before being shipped on the HMHS Grantully Castle to England on 16 July.

The 16th Battalion's Unit War Diary entry for 19 Apr 1918 reads

..."Fri: 19.4.18. As uneventful a day as yesterday. Weather cold but fine. Mud drying up. Casualties to 6 a.m. 20.4.18 Four wounded."

The War Diary entry for 4th Jul 1918 reads ....

"Thu 4th July. The 4th Division, assisted by the 11th and 6th AUSTRALIAN Infantry Brigades attacked and captured HAMEL; VAIRE and HAMEL WOODS, and the spur beyond. Narrative: ......Weather splendid for such an operation. Casualties not heavy. Officers - 2 killed, 3 wounded. Other Ranks 11 killed, 62 wounded."

In England, Alfred was admitted to the 4th London General Hospital where he remained undergoing treatment until 1 Oct 1918 when he was released to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford. Following treatment he enjoyed two weeks leave before again contracting Influenza, necessitating another stint in hospital before he was able to again join the queue to go home.

Discharged 5th Military District on 24 Mar 1919.

The West Australian 29 Jul 1918 p.5 Casualty List 419 included a reference to Alfred being wounded on 29 Jul 1918.

Newspapers of the day published a list of passengers aboard the Troopship HMAT A71 Nestor returning to Australia, including Alfred.

Post War

The Daily News has a story about the untimely death of two old men, aged 67 and 73 living opposite the Gittens' Belmont house in what was described as a lonely shack.

Married Adelhaid Hease in 1923. Electoral Roll entries from 1925 to 1936 place them in Belmont (labourer); Adelhaid remains there after Alfred's death (101 Epson Ave) until her own on 29 Apr 1987. Sons Alfred Stephen (1924 - 2012), Keith (1929 - )