BAWDEN, Alfred Hayward Thomas
| Other Name: | Bawden, Alfred Hayward - WW1 Service Record |
|---|---|
| Service Numbers: | 1701, V91727, V363142 |
| Enlisted: | 24 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 21st (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Mincha, Victoria, Australia, 16 November 1895 |
| Home Town: | Mincha, Loddon, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 12 November 1964, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Pyramid Hill Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Pyramid Hill Mincha District Great European War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1701, 4th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1701, 4th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1701, 4th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 3 Jul 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Award Military Medal Commonwealth of Australia Gazette - 20 December 1917 on page 3376 at position 42 London Gazette - 16 August 1917 on page 8426 at position 32 | |
| 15 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 4th Light Horse Regiment, In the field | |
| 16 Sep 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 4th Light Horse Regiment, IN the field | |
| 24 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1701, 4th Light Horse Regiment, Discharged 3rd Military District |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V91727 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 May 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, V363142, 21st (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
| 31 Oct 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, V363142, 21st (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
Help us honour Alfred Hayward Thomas Bawden's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Alfred and A.E. Bawden of Mincha West, Victoria; husband of Lily May Bawden
20 May 1919 - commenced return to Australia on board HT Nestor disembarking on 2 July 1919
Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, Britsh War Medal, Victory Medal
WW2 Service
Served in the Volunteer Corps in 1941-1943 service number V91727
Biography contributed by Georgia von Guttner Sporzynska
Alfred Hayward Thomas Bawden was born in 1895, the eldest of eight children in a family of wool growers. He enlisted in the 4th Light Horse Regiment on 9 August 1915 at Bendigo, Victoria.
After initial training at Seymour Camp, Bawden embarked aboard HMAT Ceramic on 23 November 1915 as part of the 12th Reinforcement for the 4th Light Horse Regiment. Initially bound for Gallipoli, his unit was redirected to Egypt following the evacuation of the peninsula. In March 1916, Bawden was deployed to the Western Front, where he served in France and Belgium under challenging conditions.
Bawden spent 1,318 days abroad, with approximately 83% of this time engaged in active service. In June 1917, he was awarded the Military Medal. His service also included involvement in the Second Battle of Kemmel in April 1918, during which he assisted in rescuing a wounded British soldier under enemy fire.
Bawden became proficient in French during his service and developed a strong attachment to his assigned horse, Gregory. He was discharged from service on 24 August 1919 and returned to his family farm.
Following his return, Bawden resumed farming and married Lilly Cornish in 1921. Together, they raised three children. Beyond his agricultural pursuits, Bawden actively contributed to his local community. He was a founding member of the Pyramid Hill RSL, Legacy, and the Dad’s Association. He also served on the Gordon Shire Council, including as president, and was involved in the local Agricultural Society, hospital committee, and school council.
During the Great Depression, Bawden provided assistance to unemployed workers passing through the region, many of whom were veterans. In the Second World War, he re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, later transitioning to the Citizen Military Forces as a lieutenant.
Alfred Hayward Thomas Bawden passed away in 1955.
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