Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Aspinall

On the 28th of July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, initiating the start of World War 1. In August of 1914, The Australian Expeditionary Force started recruiting for men between the age of 19 and 38, at a minimum height of 5’6” (168cm) and with a minimum chest measurement of 34inches (86.36cm) (Australian War Memorial, date unknown). The men that fitted to these standards were then required to pass a military medical examination which comprised of the man’s physical development, complexion, marks or scars and their eyesight (Australian Military Forces, 1914). Australia’s population in 1914 stood at around 4.9million, before 38.7% of the male population enlisted for service in the First World War (Australian War Memorial, date unknown).

Alfred Aspinall was born on the 12th of October 1894, in Williamstown, Victoria (Australian Imperial Force, 1914). He was son of Alfred Aspinall and the late Jane Aspinall (UNSW Canberra, 2016).

Alfred started school at around the age of 5, at Kensington State School, Victoria (UNSW Canberra, 2016). After finishing primary school, he moved to All Saints Grammar School in St Kilda, Victoria, for secondary school, where he finished his education (UNSW Canberra, 2016). After school, Alfred began work as a salesman on Elizabeth street, Melbourne, whilst living on Thomas Street in North Richmond, Victoria.

On August 17th 1914, Alfred Aspinall enlisted for service as part of the Australian Military Forces. Standing at a height of 5’5.5”, Aspinall was also considered to have good physical development and health (Aspinall, 1914). He enlisted for service in Melbourne, Victoria, and was placed into the 6th Battalion Unit. Alfred Aspinall was given the rank of a Private, and the regimental number, 759. Thereafter, he was formerly known as Private Alfred Aspinall. The whole of the 6th Battalion was selected from Victoria and was sent to Cairo, Egypt. The Aspinall’s unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board the A20 Hororata , on October 19th 1914(UNSW Canberra, 2016). Upon arriving on the 2nd of December 1914, the battalion spent several months in intensive training before departing for ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli (Government of South Australia, date unknown).

Whilst in Cairo, Private Alfred Aspinall was admitted to the Mena Camp Hospital, diagnosed with an infection. He was admitted to hospital on January 26th 1915 and was in treatment for 38 days. After this treatment period, private Alfred Aspinall was discharged to duty on the 4th of March 1915 (Australian Military Forces, 1915).

On the 25th April 1915, ANZAC troops embarked upon ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli. Fighting against Ottoman soldiers, who had an above ground advantage, the ANZACs put up a fight. Private Alfred Aspinall was amongst the thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who went into battle on this day. Private Alfred Aspinall was killed in action on the 25th April 1915. One among around 8364 other ANZACs, Private Alfred Aspinall was gone forever on the 25th April 1915.

After Private Alfred Aspinall died, his parents, Alfred and Jane Aspinall moved houses from Thomas Street, North Richmond, Victoria, to Cromwell Street, Collingwood, Victoria. Alfred Aspinall, along with the rest of his Battalion has a memorial at Lone Pine Memorial in Gallipoli. In 1920, his parents were told that the inscription they had requested to be written on his memorial was exceeding the limit of 66 letters (including the space between words.), so they had to change this. Private Alfred Aspinall’s final commemoration details went like this; ASPINALL< Pte. Alfred, 759. 6th Bn. Killed in action 25th April, 1915. Age 20. Son of Alfred Aspinall, of 18, Cromwell St., Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, and the late Jane Aspinall. Native of Ballarat. 26 (Australian Government, date unknown).

Private Alfred Aspinall of 10 Thomas Street, North Richmond, Victoria, Australia, was born on October 12th 1894 in Williamstown, Victoria, and was killed in action in Gallipoli, on the 25th of April 1915, at 20 years of age.