AHRADSEN, Alexander
| Service Number: | 2778 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wellington, New Zealand., 1884 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Boys School, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Occupation: | Uphosterer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Bullecourt, France, 11 April 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Leichhardt War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2778, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2778, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2778, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Alexander Ahradsen's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 33 and the son of Peter and Sarah Ahradsen; husband of Emily S. Ahradsen, of 10, Grosvenor St., Woollahra, New South Wales.
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alexander Ahradsen was the son of Peter and Sarah Ahradsen, born in New Zealand during 1884. In 1912, he married Emily Sophia Ahradsen, of Woollahra, New South Wales.
Alexander was a 31-year-old upholsterer working for the Marcus Clark Department Store at Newtown, Sydney, when enlisted in the AIF on 26 July 1915. He was posted to the 13th Battalion. After training in Egypt he qualified as a Lewis gunner. In May 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. The 13th Battalion was sent to France during early June 1916. Alexander was promoted to Corporal just after the heavy fighting at Pozieres. He was promoted to Sergeant during February 1917.
With his involvement with Lewis Guns, he twice received a Divisional Commanders Congratulatory Card, in December 1916, and February 1917, for work undertaken in the Gueudecourt area.
The recommendation for his first Commander in Chiefs Congratulatory Card states “He was in charge of C Company’s 3 Lewis guns during operations north of Gueudecourt 27 November to 6 December 1916. Exercised great coolness and resource in the handling of his guns and was untiring in his efforts to maintain guns and crews in the highest state of efficiency. In spite of the extremely inclement weather, mud and lack of shelter, he was able to have them always ready for instant use and in no single case was troubled by stoppages.”
The second recommendation has been lost.
Alexander Ahradsen was killed in action during the Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917, a disaster for the 13th Battalion as it was trapped without support in the Hindenberg line. He has no known grave.
It was said that Alexander’s wife, Emily Ahradsen, who had a young daughter, developed nervous paralysis when she learned of her husband's death and at one time it was feared that she would never walk again. Mother and daughter were still posting memorial notices in the 1940’s.
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