DOCTER , Alfred William
| Service Number: | 1699 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brunswick, Victoria, Australia, December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | 19 October 1918, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1699, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 1699, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 1699, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His two brothers: 1935 Pte Francis Docter 5th Battalion AIF, killed in action at Gallipoli 25 November 1915, aged 21 and 2612 Pte Thomas Cancel Docter 60th Battalion AIF, killed in action at Fromelles, 19 July 1916, aged 25.
Alfred was the younger brother, born in 1894. He was 20 years and four months old when he enlisted at Victoria Barracks on 4 March, 1915. He trained with the 21st Battalion, but was then taken on strength with the 23rd Battalion. He was deployed to Gallipoli with the 23rd Battalion on 4 September 1915.
After one day's rest, they took up defensive positions at Lone Pine. By now, Alfred Docter was ill, a later medical report stating 'First contracted cold before landing in Egypt, August 1915, went to Gallipoli, landed at Lonesome Pine, got harsh cold and had haemopthysis.' On 8 September, he was sent to the 1st Anzac Casualty Clearing Station, but his condition must have been seen as serious, because a week later, he was sent to Malta on and admitted to the No.5 Australian General Hospital there. Here he was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the upper apex of the left lung, aggravated by active service and 'severe conditions'. He was in hospital for three weeks, judged as being 100% incapacitated, suffering from night sweats, coughing, loss of weight and debility. He was judged unfit for any further service and returned to Australia, recommended for a pension and to be sent to a sanatorium.
Alfred Doctor died on 19 October 1918; his death only noted in a family notice in the Melbourne Age two days later. He was 23 years and 11 months of age.
I cannot explain why, but he is not listed on any Roll of Honour.
Biography
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