Alfred Edward MORTIMER

Badge Number: 22805, Sub Branch: Hindmarsh
22805

MORTIMER, Alfred Edward

Service Numbers: 3589, S212057
Enlisted: 27 September 1939, Adelaide, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 32nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 6 August 1893
Home Town: Brompton, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Brompton, South Australia, Australia, 7 March 1948, aged 54 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section)
Section: KO, Road: 2, Site No: 17
Memorials: Hindmarsh Federated Brick, Tile & Pottery Industrial Union Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

12 Aug 1916: Involvement Private, 3589, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: ''
12 Aug 1916: Embarked Private, 3589, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide
27 Apr 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3589, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Hip

World War 2 Service

27 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, S212057
27 Sep 1939: Enlisted Adelaide, SA
27 Mar 1944: Discharged

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Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School

Alfred Edward Mortimer was born in Adelaide on August 6th, 1893. He grew up on Coghlan Street, Brompton with his mother, Sarah Jane Mortimer, and sister. Mortimer worked as a labourer before enlisting for the first world war at age 22.

Mortimer enlisted in Adelaide on May 1st, 1916. He embarked aboard the ship HMAT Ballarat A70 three months later on August 12th. Mortimer was a member of the 8th reinforcement of the 32nd Battalion and was taken on by the main battalion on December 31st, 1916. He injured his thumb early in 1917 and spent a short time in hospital. he 32nd battalion partook in one major battle in 1917, the battle of Polygon Wood (26/27th September to 3rd October 1917). Mortimer was not present for this battle as he fell ill and was sent to hospital the day it began. Mortimer returned to his unit on October 8th. On May 27th, 1918, Mortimer was wounded in action in the hip and admitted to hospital. Mortimer was let out of hospital 17 days later on July 13th. He then travelled from Belgium, where he'd been wounded, to England. He re-joined his unit in France on October 21st. He and the rest of his unit returned to Australia on April 10th. 

At some point between 1919 and 1939, Mortimer married a woman named Sarah. During this time he remained a labourer but struggled to find work. In 1939 he enlisted to serve in World War 2. He was discharged on March 27th, 1944. Mortimer then returned to Australia where he lived with his wife until 1948 when he died. Mortimer is buried in the West Terrace AIF Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia.

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