Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Ernest Treleaven was born on the 12 April 1898. He lived in his hometown of Goolwa, Alexandrina, South Australia. He lived with his father William John Pell Treleaven, and his mother, and next of kin, Elizabeth Ann Eliza Mcdonald. World War 1 came whilst he was working as a Labourer. He decided to enlist at the age of 18 years, and 2 months. He Enlisted in Adelaide.

Treleaven was given the rank of Private. He embarked on, 18 Nov 1915 aboard the HMAT Geelong from Adelaide. He arrived and disembarked in Heliopolis in Egypt on 28 Dec 1915. He joined the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment and then got transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Reserve Regiment. Then he transferred to the 5th Division Artillery on the 1 April 1916, then transferred again to the 15th Artillery Brigade on 2nd April, before being promoted to Lance Bombardier on the 24th.

He transferred to the 25th Artillery Brigade in Blaringhem on 9th July and the unit moved on the 11th of July arriving in Croix du Bac on the 12th. They moved into position in Fleurbaix and conducted reconnaissance of enemy battery positions on the 14th. Then the fighting started on 16th, with some casualties. Alfred's unit started large-scale bombarding on the enemy at 11 am on the 19th of July, the enemy returned fire. The Unit experienced shelling until the next day. The firing stopped on 20th. The next few days were spent assessing damage and making repairs. Enemy planes and observation balloons were seen observing the unit. On 24th the enemy opened fire, which continued for several days, until the end of the month . On 27 July 1916 he was given the temporary rank of Bombardier. On the 24th of January 1917 he transferred to 14th Artillery Brigade in France where they sent out an SOS. On the 27th of July he was promoted from Lance Bombardier to Bombardier and on the 2nd of August 1917 he was promoted again to Lance Corporal as the previous Lance Corporal was killed in action. On the 24th of November 1917, Alfred was promoted from Corporal to temporary Lance Sergeant by Sgt H.G Beasley.

On the 20th of April 1918 he proceeded to join the Royal Field Artillery Cadet School at St Johns Wood in England. On the 28th of June he founded the No 1 Royal Field Artillery Cadet School at St Johns Woods and appointed new cadets. On the 6th January 1919, having qualified, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant and posted to Federal Artillery Refits then possibly 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. On the 30th he proceeded overseas to France from England. On the 1st of February he joined the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. On the 14th of April he went back to the UK and was granted leave from 24/4/19 to 24/10/19. He returned to Australia on the 25th of November 1919. In 1919, the Records Department noted claims by officers and others against Alfred’s unit were unpaid, and suggested wilful neglect by officers in this unit. Alfred acknowledged the report and certified that he settled all known accounts owed by the unit. He returned to Australia, and disembarked on the 6th of January 1920. His period of enlistment terminated on the 7th of March 1920.

In March 1925, a motor car driven by Alfred Treleaven was destroyed by fire on the Sandgate-road, about a mile on the Sandgate side of Virginia. It appeared that the car backfired and burst into flames. All efforts to extinguish the blaze were unsuccessful. The car was valued at £600. In 1925 Alfred als played football for St. Marks. At some point after the war Alfred married  Doris Elsie Edith Teusner. They had two children, a son, John W. Treleaven, and a daughter, Jill Treleaven. They had a grandchild called Victor A. Hannan.

Alfred died at age 64 on the 27th of March 1963, in South Australia.