Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Served as Alexander WARE 53522

Son of Arthur George GILCHRIST and Jessie nee MOFFATT (both declared dead on enlistment papers but were very much alive at that time.)

21/5/19
His father, Arthur George Gilchrist wrote from "Coomera", Montague Rd, Cremorne to The General Officer Commanding, Australian Imperial Forces, Headquarters, Horseferry Rd., London. S.W.
Dear Sir,
Attached hereto is my application to have the name of my youngest son, as he enlisted, changed on your records to his proper name. He tried to enlist no less than three times but eventually he succeeded and took his grandmother's name. He enlisted as Alexander Ware instead of Alexander Allan Gilchrist. He was afraid to take my name as I was closely associated with the War Council in connection with the Recruiting Campaign. On the 13th March by last letter he was in hospital. He enlisted early in Sydney in 1918 and sailed in May 1918. His mother and I are particularly anxious that he should be under his name, in case of anything happening before he returns to us. His uncle, Lieut. H.W. Gilchrist, was killed in action at Gallipoli. I trust the change to his proper name can be made at once without any detriment to the lad or any punishment being inflicted on him. I interviewed Col. Farr, Officer-in-Charge of Repatriation in Sydney and he advised me to write to you. You will confer a great obligation on his mother and me if you will grant our request. I would be pleased if you could officially inform me when the change in name has been made.
Yours in anticipation,
A.G. Gilchrist.

2/6/1919 his father wrote again from his Montague Rd address to Colonel Farr of the Repatriation Department in Australia:
Dear Colonel,
Attached hereto are two letters which I posted on the 22nd ult. to the G.O.C Australian Imperial Forces, Horseferry Road, London,
I now, through a friend, received from the Base Records Office, Melbourne, dated 28th ult., stating that No. 53522, Private A. Ware, is returning to Australia per Transport "Leicestershire" which left England on 3rd May, 1919, and will probably reach Melbourne about the 22nd June.
You will thus see that my letter to London will be ineffective. I am sorry that I did not follow your advice and leave the matter in your hands, but his mother and I were anxious that his name should be changed at the earliest possible moment, and we did not anticipate at that time that he ahd already left London, as our latest advice was that he was in hospital sick. I should esteem it a very great favour, Colonel, if you could fix this matter up in Melbourne forthwith, so that his name will be changed in the Base Records, and in the published list of those arriving his proper name will appear.
Thank you on behalf of his mother and self,
Believe me to be,
Gratefully yours
A G Gilchrist

4/6/1919 Colonel Farr wrote a private note to someone named Jim regarding Arthur Gilchrist:
Dear Jim,
I wonder if you can do anything in this matter. Gilchrist is one of the best and I would like to ? (assist?) him if I could. A G Farr

13/8/1919
I Alexander Allan Gilchrist of Montague Rd Cremore do solemnly and sincerely declare that I enlisted in the Aust. Inf. Forces on the 2nd March 1918 under the alias of 53522 Pte Alexander Ware, 53rd Btn and that I sailed from Australia on 8th May 1918 & on the Troopship Osterley and returned by the Hospital Transport "Leicestershire" I was discharged on 7th July 1919 & desire to have all records altered to my correct name. A A Gilchrist declared at Sydney the Thirteenth day of August 1919 before me John A Shaw Justice of the Peace in N.S.W.