Soldier profiles

Name : ALDRIDGE, ARTHUR WILLIAM
Service Number : VX41662
Date of Birth : 13/04/1898
Place of Birth : HEYWOOD, VIC
Known as :
Occupation on Enlistment : RIGGER
Date of Enlistment : 01/07/1940
Locality on Enlistment : GLEN IRIS, VIC
Place of Enlistment : CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin : ALDRIDGE, ROSE
Rank (at time of discharge / death) : PRIVATE
Service : ARMY
Final Posting : HEADQUARTERS GUARD BATTALION
Position / Platoon / Company (as 2/2 Pioneer) (date / details) :
Unit Transfers / Promotions (date / details) :
Theatres of War : SYRIA
Actions :
Wounded (date / details) :
Discharged : 22/09/1941
Date Died : 01/01/1974
Age at Death : 75
Community Roll of Honour : N/A
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : N/A
K.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
D.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
M.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. (location/s) : NO
Died P.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. Camps (details) : N/A
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : N/A
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : NO
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 6128188 [DIGITISED], Barcode 3024591 [DIGITISED], Barcode 21364574 [NOT EXAMINED], Barcode 21364575 [NOT EXAMINED], Barcode 21364576 [NOT EXAMINED]), WW2 Nominal Roll

Background : Put age down to enlist with date of birth 13/04/1901 (actual age was 42). In the 2/2nd Pioneer Training Battalion from September 1940 and in the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion itself from October 1940, until June 1941. World War 1 service : No prior military experience. Enlisted 03/08/1915 as Private with service number 4132. Was labourer and single at enlistment. Scars : small of back & 2 on left calf. Unit 1st Pioneer Battalion. Embarked from Australia 29/12/1915. Embarked Alexandria, Egypt 06/03/1916 on ship Ballarat. Disembarked Marseilles, France 02/04/1916. Was at Boulogne, France. Evacuated to Lakeham Military Hospital, England 09/08/1917 on ship Elizabeth with pneumonia. Returned via Le Havre, France to 1st Pioneer Battalion 22/11/1917. Detached to 1st Australian Division 16/04/1918 to 16/05/1918. Wounded in action France 23/08/1918 (gunshot wound in back). Rejoined 1st Pioneer Battalion 13/09/1918. Admitted hospital Bulford, England 10/01/1919. Embarked for return to Australia 12/04/1919 on ship Suffolk. Disembarked Victoria, Australia 05/06/1919. Discharged 28/07/1919. Medals issued : British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914/15 Star.

Service & personal summary At enlistment : married. 1 year Australian Imperial Forces previous military experience. At discharge : height 5 feet 5 inches, blue eyes, fair complexion, brown hair. Marital status : married. Marks / scars : nil. Full time war service : A.I.F. 01/07/1940 to 22/09/1941 which included 421 days active service (281 days within Australia & 140 days overseas). Operational service : Middle East area (embarked from Australia 07/04/1941, disembarked in Australia 24/08/1941). War badge no. 1564. Discharge certificate no. 20283.

Service record
01/07/1940 Taken on strength Recruit Reception Depot Caulfield, Victoria.
12/07/1940 Transferred to 6 Training Battalion Mt. Martha, Victoria from Recruit Reception Depot.
20/09/1940 Transferred to Pioneer Training Battalion Hamilton, Victoria.
23/09/1940 Transferred to 2/2 Pioneer Training Battalion Hamilton, Victoria from 6 Training Battalion.
30/10/1940 Posted to 2/2 Pioneer Battalion Puckapunyal, Seymour, Victoria.
30/10/1940 Posted from Pioneer Training Battalion.
07/04/1941 Embarked Sydney, New South Wales on H.M.S. Queen Mary (H.M.T. N.N.).
03/05/1941 Disembarked Middle East.
07/06/1941 Transferred to Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion.
07/06/1941 Taken on strength from 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.
02/08/1941 Embarked Middle East on H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth.
24/08/1941 Disembarked Sydney, New South Wales.
25/08/1941 Granted disembarkation leave 25/08/1941 to 02/09/1941.
11/09/1941 Discharged.