SAPPER ALFRED GEORGE ELMER
6712 - 1st Tunnelling Company
Born at Gapsted, via Wangaratta, Victoria, in 1885, Alfred was the first of eight children born to George Henry and Jessie (nee Proctor) Elmer.
Alfred signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 27 July 1916 and named as his Next-of-Kin his father George Henry Elmer of Eldorado, Victoria, the address later changed to Gapsted Post Office, Victoria. He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on the same day at Melbourne, Victoria.
A single Miner, Alfred was 30 years and 11 months of age when he enlisted. He was 5ft 8ins tall, weighed 140 lbs, had a medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. Although he had been found to be ‘fit for active service’ at a medical examination in Myrtleford on 26 June, he was re-examined in Melbourne on 27 July by Captain Spence of the Australian Army Medical Corps and his fitness for duty was confirmed.
He was appointed to ‘C’ Company of the Miners Reinforcements at Seymour with the rank of Sapper on 10 August 1916. On 12 August he was admitted to No.5 Australian General Hospital (5AGH), being discharged on 30 August and returning to his unit at Seymour the same day.
It appears Alfred did a stint with the Pioneers from 27 October to 7 November 1916 when he resumed training with the Miners at their Seymour Camp until 8 January 1917 when he was officially appointed to the Tunnelling Companies.
He had been admitted to hospital on 10 December, this time with influenza, returning to his training 4 days later.
Alfred embarked at Melbourne on board HMAT A5 Omrah with the January 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies.
Omrah departed Sydney on 13 January 1917, stopping briefly in Melbourne and Adelaide to pick up troops before arriving in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 21 January. Departing Fremantle on 24 January, she arrived in Durban, South Africa on 16 February, reached Capetown on 20 February, Freetown, Sierre Leone on 9 March, arriving at Plymouth, England on 27 March 1917. The troops then entrained for Tidworth.
The January 1917 Tunneller Reinforcements numbered 168 and the voyage from Australia to Plymouth took 74 days.
The Reinforcements marched in to the Drafting Depot at Perham Downs on the same day they disembarked.
Alfred proceeded overseas to France from Folkstone on 9 May 1917, and marched in to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) Reinforcements on 10 May. He was attached to the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (1ATC) on 6 June 1917.
On 23 August he suffered a bomb wound to the left foot and was initially treated at the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred by Ambulance Train 14 to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance. He was then transferred to the 54th General Hospital on 24 August.
On 28 August he was transferred to the 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux and on 1 September was released to the 1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne. He was transferred to the 13th Convalescent Depot at Tronville on 3 September.
On 8 September his NOK advised he had been wounded. Alfred was transferred to the 2nd General Hospital at Havre on 21 September and admitted with P.U.O. (pyrexia of unknown origin = high temperature). Diagnosed with influenza, he was treated and transferred to the 4th Convalescent Depot on 5 October 1917. He returned to the AGBD on 19 October and re-joined his unit on 28 October.
Alfred was officially taken on strength of 1ATC on 27 April 1918.
He proceeded on Leave to England on 3 October 1918. While on leave in England, he was admitted to King George Hospital, Stanford Street, London on 12 October 1918 with influenza. Discharged from hospital to the Administrative Headquarters on 19 November, he resumed his leave in England until 24 November.
Alfred was returned to France on 1 December and continued to work with his unit repairing and refurbishing civil facilities in France until 3 April 1919 when he marched out to the AGBD for demobilisation. He left France on 10 April and marched in to No.1 Group at Longbridge Deverill.
Alfred left London on 31 May 1919 on board Aeneas for return to Australia, disembarking at Melbourne on 12 July 1919.
A medical examination at No.5 Australian General Hospital on 5 August noted that his indigestion had been cured, that his heart, lungs and urine were clear and that he had no incapacity.
Alfred was discharged from the A.I.F. in the 3rd Military District (Victoria) on 12 September 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal (62775) and Victory Medal (60727).
As he had not collected his medals in person, they were posted to him in September 1923.
In June 1928 he wrote from Gapsted to the Secretary of Defence asking for his old pay book. He was advised that all unclaimed pay books had been destroyed some years before.
Alfred played District cricket well into his 40s:
The Argus - Melbourne, Vic. - Monday 4 February 1935
MYRTLEFORD - Old Timers six (closed) for 165 (L. Welch 46, A. Elmer 36) d Myrtleford A. 128 (F. Barton 50)
The Argus - Melbourne, Vic. - Tuesday 8 February 1938
MYRTLEFORD - Myrtleford Association
Gapsted - 3/103 (W. Welch 44, A. Elmer 34) d Old Timers - 82 (J. Blake 33, W. Kneebone 5/20).
The Argus - Melbourne, Vic. - Monday 21 February 1938
MYRTLEFORD-Association Semi finals
Myrtleford Wanderers 54 (W. Kneebone 4/6) Gapsted 53 (A. Elmer 15)
The Australian Electoral rolls record that between 1909 and 1954 Alfred lived in Gapsted in the Sub-district of Myrtleford, later changed to Beechworth.
Alfred George Elmer died at Beechworth, Victoria in 1962 age 76.
© Donna Baldey 2011