Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Angus Bruce Adler was born in Carlton, Victoria on the 4th of July 1890. He moved to 8 Ballville Street Prospect, South Australia at a later stage, living with his mother Kathrine McInnis, his guardian (father) Henry Whaites, his stepbrother Albert Ralph and his older stepsister Christina May. Before he was born, his father Albert August Adler died. Angus's mother befriended Henry Whaites, who happened to live in the same street. Henry worked as a lamplighter. Albert August Adler had three children before he passed away, one daughter and two sons. Unfortunately, the first brother Albert passed away about a year after his birth. Angus Bruce went to Nailsworth Public School in Adelaide from the 9th of July 1895 to the 26th of November 1902.

Angus worked as a labourer until the age of 23 years when he enlisted for war on the 14 December 1914 in Townsville, Queensland. Angus, known by nickname from his friends as “Gus”, was 5 foot 4 inches tall, had a chest measurements of 35–36 inches, grey eyes, fair hair and was 9 stone 2 lb. His starting rank was private and was assigned to the 25/26th Infantry Battalion. Angus's service number was 284. His AWM embarkation roll number was 23/42/1 and his unit embarked on board the HMAT A60 Aeneas on the 29th of June 1915 from Brisbane, Queensland.

Angus was at war for four years, serving with the Army. While at war he endured many trips to the hospital with various illnesses including jaundice in October 1915, pneumonia in 1916, a few more trips being sick in general and then other illnesses in February 1917 resulting in 49 days in hospital. He was admitted again in May 1917 and spent another 40 days in a hospital. On the 12th of the October 1918, he was transferred to the 26th Battalion.

Angus Bruce Adler was discharged on the 28th of May 1919 when he came back to Australia.  It seems Angus had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. He applied to work at the post office in 1926 but in order to do so he needed his military discharge papers. It appears he repeatedly requested the military to send replacements as his original copies were burnt in a house fire. Evidence shows that he was still asking for these papers for quite a few years after. Angus also asked for a free pass to Melbourne for ANZAC celebrations on the 6th of April 1935. At this point he was living in Korumburra. By the 7th of November 1935, his known address was care of Maryborough Post Office in Queensland, which possibly indicates he had no fixed address. He was picked up by the police in 1949 for being drunk and disorderly. By this stage of his life he had never married and was and derelict. In 1950 he was bitten by a dog and taken to hospital. At the age of 59 he is described as being a “traveller” which confirms that he had no fixed address.

Angus Bruce Adler passed away in Queensland, Australia on the 1st of January 1952 at the age of 61 years. The registration number in the Queensland death index is 000642. The circumstances of his death are unknown and the only information was recorded as “dying”. He was buried at a cemetery in Charters Towers in Queensland and is commemorated at the RSL Hall Memorial in Prospect, South Australia.