CALDWELL, Allan Edwin
| Service Number: | 7174 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Balmain South, New South Wales, Australia, 11 May 1901 |
| Home Town: | Five Dock, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mental Health Nurse, Callan Park, New South Wales |
| Died: | Respiratory Illness, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, Australia , 1976 |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 7174, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1917: | Embarked Private, 7174, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
Help us honour Allan Edwin Caldwell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Narelle Caldwell
Based on the Australian War Memorial's Service History, independent research conducted by Mr Denis McCarthy and information from Family records the following is a factual account of Allan Edwin Caldwell's war history and life.
Allan Caldwell was just 13 years old when the Great War broke out in August 1914. In September of 1917, then aged 16 years and 4 months, Allan decided it was time to become a part of “the great adventure”. He added two years to his age and duly enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). By the time the war concluded in 1918, Allan, now 17 years, had become a veteran of the Australian Infantry, having made his contribution in active service during the final year of the war in some of the most crucial battles fought on the Western Front, ultimately leading to the defeat of the German army in November 1918.
In reading this history it should be kept in mind that Private A E Caldwell was absorbed into the strength of the 17th Battalion when he arrived with his fellow members of the 21st Reinforcements on 16 April 1918 and that he remained with the Battalion until he was evacuated owing to illness on 27 September 1918.
Private Caldwell commenced these 165 days in the field as a 16 year old boy and completed them as experienced soldier, though as yet still one of only 17 years of age.
Allan served alongside hardened veterans of both the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 and the fighting on the Western Front from 1916, as well as with other young men who had enlisted and travelled to the war during the intervening years.
This active service in France of approximately five and a half months formed part of Private Caldwell’s total of just over 16 months service overseas within a total period of service in the AIF of 19 months.
The research has shown that Allan Edwin Caldwell was involved in some of the most crucial battles of WWI, in fact those that turned the fortunes of the war in favour of the Allies.
Irrespective of the famous battles, the fact that he made it back to Australia, married Grace, had 3 children - Jim, Ruth and Don, worked as a Mental Health Nurse at Callan Park, supporting returned servicemen from WWI and WW2 and lived until 76 is testimony to a his will, courage, determination and humility.
I think Allan would be pleased to know, at the time of writing he is survived by one of his children, Ruth, 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren.
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