Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Rickard
Alfred was the third son born to Stephen and Elizabeth Rickard on January 1897 at North Gilberton. He had and older sister, May and two older brothers, Clifton and Gilbert. Alfred’s parents Stephen and Elizabeth were very community minded people; Stephen being a highly respected accountant for Balnaves Limited in Penola, earning himself a silver tea and coffee service on a polished oak tray, for his loyalty, continuing in their employ for 32 years. During this time both his and his employer’s sons were serving Australia in the Great War. Stephen also was an active participant in local activities, including the Triton Cricket Club as both a player and later an umpire. He was also Secretary for 22 years for the Penola Agricultural and Horticultural Society, the Oddfellow’s, President of the South Eastern Football Association and Penola Football Club. With this background it was inevitable that his sons had a highly developed civic pride.
Alfred, working as a labourer in Penola, was the first of the three brothers to enlist in February, 1915, just a month after his 18th birthday. Because he was under the nominal age of 21, his father, Stephen, wrote to formally give his consent for Alfred to enlist. By the 17th August 1915 his two older brothers had also enlisted together, with all three nominating their mother Elizabeth as their next of kin. Alfred served with the 27th Infantry Battalion. Unfortunately, by November he was hospitalised for a fortnight before returning to his unit, then succumbing again to influenza in February 1916. He became a Sapper with the Signals Company. Alfred did push the boundaries in France by being absent in Belgium for 10 minutes from an evening Tattoo in September 1916, then in March of the following year being ‘unwashed and unshaven on Parade’ prompting him to request to revert to being a Sapper, having previously been attached to the 2nd Division Signal Company. He was again struck with influenza in February 1919 in France before returning to Australia on the 19th April 1919. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service.
The conflict, though had a permanent effect on Alfred’s brother, Gilbert who died of war related injuries at Daw’s Road Hospital in 1927. Alfred and his family were particularly supportive of Gilbert’s widow, Hilda and her two daughters, Mary and Dorothy. Ten years after Gilbert’s death, his daughter Mary Patricia married Douglas Allen, (a twin) in 1946. Alfred acted on Gilbert’s behalf by walking her to the altar at Naracoorte.
Alfred married and had a son on the 14th September 1928, born at the Gilberton Park Terrace Hospital. His daughter, Aileen married in December 1939 to Max Lane. Of all three Rickard brothers, Alfred was the longest living and died after a full life, aged 91 years on the 14th May 1988. His service is commemorated on the Honor Roll at Penola with Gilbert and Clifton.
Tribute researched and written by Kaye Lee, Daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133