Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alexander Stenhouse Hume was born about March, 1886, in Brunswick, to John Hume and Ellen Shores, one of six children.

Alexander married Ethel Ashman on 19 September, 1914, at Camberwell. Alexander’s occupations were a labourer and brickmaker, and his distinguishing features included four tattoos - left arm - Forget-me-not, left forearm - American coat of arms, right arm – sailor, right forearm - hand across sea.

He enlisted as an A.I.F private on the 6 December, 1915, at the age of twenty-nine years, 9 months, next of kin his wife Ethel resident at 3 Inverloch Street, Auburn South, later changed to “Kia-Ora”, Hutton Street, Thornbury.
Arriving for war service in France and Belgium per the “Orana”, it was not long before Alexander was admitted to hospital with influenza, with another stint in hospital, “sick”.

Alexander returned to Australia via the “Castalia”, arriving 30 May, 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
While Alexander was away, his wife Ethel, her sister Sheila and their friend Minnie Groves, sister of another brother-in-law, John Daniel Groves, moved up to Sydney as nursing aides in Randwick Military Hospital. There was some hope that, should Alexander be returned home, he would come through Sydney first! During this time, Ethel and Sheila wrote regularly to their family, Ethel being nicknamed “Joe” and Sheila “John”. This was not an uncommon piece of fun at that time. Alexander, to the family, became known as “Uncle Joe”.

Reunited with his family, Alexander returned to brickmaking at the Auburn Road, Hawthorn brickworks, and he and Ethel had two children. In 1922, they purchased a home in the same street as Ethel’s mother. By 1924, Alexander was a Council Employee, where he remained in employment until retirement.

Alexander Stenhouse Hume, “Uncle Joe” passed away at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, aged 80, on 24 October, 1966. Fond memories of those tattoos!