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Albert was the son of Annie Honora Elizabeth Mauder WILLIAMS (aka Amy DALE) and was born on the 5th of February 1889 in the Lying in Home of the Adelaide Destitute Asylum.
Albert’s birth name was recorded as Albert Ernest DALE on his birth certificate as his mother had given a false name when she was admitted into the Lying in Home.

His mother was the daughter of John Henry WILLIAMS & Elizabeth Anne CHRISTOPHERS and was born on the 28th of October 1869 in Sebastopol, Victoria.

Albert was the eldest child and he had 9 half siblings.

Albert’s mother named his Putative father as James ROBERTS, of Wallaroo, a miner and she believed he had left colony.

His mother was in service at Mr Thomas Snellgroves, of Wallaroo, as a general servant in 1888 when she had met James.
On the 26th of December 1888 she had come to Adelaide and the following morning the police had taken her to the Lying in Home of the Adelaide Destitute Asylum.
At the time her father was living in Broken Hill and her brother; John Ernest was living in Terowie.
Annie’s mother had abandoned the family in 1880, when she was 11 years old and had gone to live with another man.

After Albert was born, he and his mother remained in the Lying in Home until the 12th of August 1889 when his mother was put into service to Mrs Wilson, of Somerset Terrace, off Gouger Street, Adelaide.
After 3 months they move to Mr Byer at Plympton and then on the 31st of May 1890 they moved to Mrs Poles, at Fulham.

On the 11th of June 1891 Albert’s mother married William John ROLLISON in the Adelaide Registrar Office.
William was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1844 and was previously married to Elizabeth Hannah KILWORTH on the 4th of July 1870 in Adelaide.
They had 8 children before Elizabeth died on the 7th of November 1890 in Bowden.

Five of these children had died in infancy, so Albert gained 3 step brothers; William John, Henry George & Roy Richard ROLLISON.
William John ROLLISON was a smelter at Ovingham (Bowden-on-the-Hill) and was previously a soldier in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
This Regiment was known as “Paddy’s Blackguards” and they saw service in Tasmania, Sydney, Victoria and South Australia.

William had arrived in Adelaide on the 30th of January 1870 on board the Claude Hamilton from Melbourne.

The Regiment only remained in Adelaide for 6 ½ months due to the general withdrawal of Imperial Regiments from Australia and sailed on board the Aldinga on 17 of August 1870 for England.
William however, now married, had remained in South Australia with his new wife.

After his mother married they moved to Terowie where Albert gained his fist little sister on the 18th of March 1892, but sadly she died just 12 months later and they buried her in the Terowie Cemetery.
They then moved to Peterborough and Yongala before settling down back in Adelaide at 24 Sturt Street in 1898.

Here, Albert and his siblings attended the Sturt Street School and the family moved to Weymouth Street and then to 1 Percy Court, off Gilberton Street, Adelaide.
After he had finished his schooling Albert gained employment as a labourer.

Albert’s step-father died on the 20th of June 1910 and the following year his mother re married to Reuben Milton Lewis MANDER on the 30th of August 1911 in the Methodist Parsonage, South Terrace, Adelaide.
Reuben was the son of Reuben MANDER & Mary HODGE and was born on the 12th of August 1865 in Norwood, SA.
He was previously married to Mary May STEVENSON on the 1st of September 1884 in Adelaide.
Rueben and Mary had 11 children and 10 were still living so Albert gained another 10 step siblings.

Reuben was a Stereotyper and they then lived at 121 Sturt Street, Adelaide before Albert moved to Hampton Street, Keswick.

Albert’s half brother; Stanley John ROLLISON enlisted into the 10th Battalion, 1 Reinforcements on the 19th of August 1914 (107), but was discharged medically unfit on the 19th of October 1914.

At the age of 27, Albert enlisted into the AIF on the 28th of November 1914 in Oaklands, SA and was allotted the service number 1327 and posted to the 12th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements, in Morphettville Camp.
Stanley went with Albert to the recruitment depot on the same day and he re enlisted (1200), but he wasn’t posted immediately.

Albert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Itonus on the 15th of February 1915 and disembarked in Suez 4 weeks later.
He served in Gallipoli and France and suffered from Bells Palsy on numerous occasions and during this time his mother and step-father had moved to 215 Franklin Street, Adelaide.

Whilst he was overseas Stanley was posted to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 9th Reinforcements. He was then posted to the 11th Reinforcements then the 12th Reinforcements, A Company on the 16th of October 1915.
10 days later Stanley was riding a motor cycle along Grote Street, in a westerly direction, with Mr. G. Chapman, an ostler, seated on the carrier.
Stanley’s motor cycle’s wheels became caught in the tramline and both men were thrown to the ground.

Mr Chapman was only slightly injured, but Staley was dazed, bleeding freely from a cut over his right eye and suffered severe head injuries. He was taken to the Adelaide Hospital and then transferred to the 7th Australian General Hospital, in Keswick.
Stanley remained in hospital for 2 weeks and was then discharged to duty.

Sadly, on the 1st of April 1916 Stanley was found dead at their parent’s home, 215 Franklin Street, Adelaide.
A piece of String was found around his neck and it was believed that Stanley had strangled himself.

The following month, Albert’s step brother; Walter Roland MANDER enlisted into the 48th Battalion on the 12th of May 1916 (2201).

After 4 years overseas, Albert embarked for Australia on the 14th of December 1918 on board SS Burma and after Spending Christmas 1918 on board the ship they called at Colombo.

Albert disembarked in Melbourne on the 29th of January 1919, entrained to Adelaide the following day and was discharged from the AIF on the 7th of April 1919.

Albert married Daisy ANTUAR on the 27th of March 1920 in the Methodist Parsonage, South Terrace, Adelaide, SA.
Daisy was the daughter of Henry Renne ANTUAR & Charlotte Ann STEPHENS and was born on the 19th of December 1893 in Aldgate, SA.

They made their first home in North Terrace, Adelaide and welcomed Olive Charlotte Honor into the family on the 6th of December 1920.
Then in January 1921 they purchased a home at 76 Gladstone Avenue, Chicago (now Kilburn) and welcomed Raymond Harold on the 25th of May 1922.

Don Rene was then born on the 23rd of July 1923.
In December 1925 Albert was driving along North Road when one wheel of his chaff wagon collapsed and he was thrown off the top of the load of chaff.
He severely cut his head and left ear and was taken to the Adelaide Hospital for treatment.

Gwendoline Veronica was then born on the 2nd of September 1925 and nearly 7 years later Elba Jean Hope was born on the 13th of March 1932.
Sadly, Elba died 15 days later on the 28th of March and they buried her in the West Terrace Cemetery.

Albert joined the Kilkenny Returned Soldiers Association (now RSL) and they later moved to LeHunte Street, Kilburn and Albert was employed as a Cooper.

On the 5th of July 1937 Albert was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital at 3:40am suffering from poisoning and he told the doctor he had drunk acid in mistake for Whisky.

Albert died at 4:15am the same morning and his cause of death was Poisoning by Spirits of Salts

Daisy buried him the following day in the Dudley Park Cemetery; Section TOP, Path 4, Plot 0042.

With the outbreak of WW2, their son Raymond enlisted into the 2/4th Armoured Regiment on the 13th of December 1941 (SX15448).
Don then enlisted into the 1st Armoured Regiment on the 17th of July 1942 (SX23353).

After Albert’s death, Daisy married Frederick HUMPHERY on the 14th of December 1942 in Prospect, SA.

Daisy died on the 3rd of May 1978 and was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park.

Military

At the age of 27, Albert enlisted into the AIF on the 28th of November 1914 in Oaklands, SA and was allotted the service number 1327 and posted to the 12th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements, in Morphettville Camp.
He listed his mother, Mrs Annie Mander, of 39 West Terrace, Adelaide, as his next of kin.

Albert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Itonus on the 15th of February 1915 and disembarked in Suez 4 weeks later.

After a few weeks of training he embarked for Lemnos Island and arrived at Pt Mudros on the 10th of April and joined the 12th Battalion who were in landing operation training and was landing horses and transport details ashore from HMT Devanha.

Then on the 23rd they received their orders for the landing operation on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

At 2pm on the 24th of April they sailed from Mudros Harbour and arrived at their rendezvous off the Peninsula at 10pm. The 12th Battalion’s strength on HMT Devanha was 31 officers and 990 other ranks, with 28 officers & 873 other ranks to land.

Whilst loading from the Destroyers onto the boats they came under heavy shell fire from Gaba Tepe and on landing met heavy machine gun and rifle fire from the direction of Fisherman’s Hut.
They landed about 4:10am on the 25th of April at ANZAC Cove and Albert they pushed forward to 1st Ridge, encountered the enemy and charged them with bayonets.

They then pursued the Turks but found themselves well outnumbered and were forced to fall back to the defensive line.
By nightfall on the 25th the 12th Battalion’s casualties were; 30 killed, 303 wounded and 90 missing.

On the 2nd of May they were relieved by the 8th Battalion and returned to the beach firing line for a few days before going back into the trenches.
Then on the 24th of May an Armistice was called from 8am until 4:30pm so both sides could bury their dead.

The 12th Battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC position.
Albert then suffered from Balls Palsy and was evacuated on board HS Ascania on the 9th of June and taken to Alexandria and admitted into the Mustapha Convalescent Depot 3 days later.
After more than 2 weeks here he was discharged back to duty and then embarked for Lemnos Island on board HMT Huntsgreen on the 22nd of August.
Six days later he marched into the ANZAC Base at Mudros but was then transferred to the 3rd Australian General Hospital in West Mudros.

In September Albert rejoined his Battalion at Gallipoli and then in early November they received word that the main objective of Gallipoli had ultimately failed and the question was being asked as to whether the force of 100,000 men at Gallipoli were containing enough Turks to justify the force remaining on the Peninsula.

It was decided that they were not and the blizzard towards the end of November hastened the preparations to withdraw the force from Gallipoli scheduled for late December as it caused 200 deaths and 10,000 men unfit for service.
The 12th Battalion, as part of the 3rd Brigade, did not wait until the general withdrawal in December and on the 25th of November they received orders to move to the beach via Shrapnel & Rest Gully for embarkation.

They withdrew from the Peninsula that day and sailed to Lemnos Island and marched into Sarpri Camp.
On the 1st of December the entire 3rd Brigade was placed into quarantine due to a Diphtheria outbreak.
They spent Christmas 1915 here and then embarked for Alexandria on board HMT Lake Michigan on New Years Day 1916.
They sailed at 2:30am on the 4th of January, disembarked 2 days later, entrained to Tel-el-Kebir Camp, between Cairo and the Suez Canal and pitched their tents.

They remained here until the 25th of January when they moved to Serapeum Camp and here they were reorganised into 2 wings.
Whilst here Albert went AWOL on the 28th of January and was found drunk in Gezira and confined to barracks for 3 days.
He rejoined his Battalion on the 10th of February but was then hospitalized for another week with Balls Palsy.

Then on the 28th of March they entrained to Alexandria and embarked on board HMT Corsican the following day.
Early the next morning they sailed for Marseilles, disembarked 6 days later and entrained to St Omer.
The following day they entrained for Godewaersveldt and then arrived at Strazeele 2 days later and commenced further training.

On the 21st of April they moved to Sailly-sur-la-Troy for further training and on the 23rd of May Albert suffered with Bronchitis and was admitted into the 26th General Hospital in Etaples.
After 3 weeks here he was discharged to the 1st ADBD (Australian Division Base Depot) in Etaples.
Albert remained here for the next 2 months and was again hospitalized on the 11th of August for a short period.
He spent Christmas 1916 in the 1st ADBD before rejoining his Battalion on the 3rd of January, in the field, at Flers.

Five days later they moved to Perth Camp and the following day they entrained to Dernancourt and went into billets.
Seven days was spent here before they moved to Bresle on the 14th of January for 10 days and then they moved to Camp A at Fricourt in the heavy snow and bitter cold.

Albert suffered from blistered feet the following day and was admitted into the 6th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 1st ANZAC Dressing Station, where he was also diagnosed with Scabies.
He was discharged to duty on the 5th of February but then suffered and infected toe on his right foot 3 days later and admitted into the 45th Casualty Clearing Station at Edgehill, near Dernancourt.
Albert was then transferred to the 11th Stationary Hospital in Rouen for 15 days before being discharged to the 1st ADBD in Etaples on the 25th of February.
He rejoined his Battalion on the 23rd of May who was in training at Ribemont and 4 weeks later they moved to the Mailly-Mailett training area and into their billets at Beaussart.
He again suffered with Balls Palsy on the 24th of June and was admitted into the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance before being transferred 3 days later to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station at Tincourt.
Six days later Albert was transferred to the 11th General Hospital at Le Treport and after 3 weeks here he was discharged to the No.3 Convalescent Depot on the 22nd of July. He spent a further 6 days here before he was discharged to the 1st ADBD in Etaples.

After 2 more months here Albert was supposed to entrain at Le Havre to rejoin his Battalion on the 28th of September, but he was absent from entrainment and didn’t rejoin his Battalion until the 8th of October at Broodseinde Ridge, near Ypres.
The following day they were relieved and moved to the Chateau Belge area and then moved to the Scottish lines the following day.
Here he was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No.2 and placed under close arrest for 4 days for missing his entrainment.

On the 24th of October they embussed to Ypres and 6 days later they relieved the 5th Battalion in the front lines east of Zonnebeke.
Six days later they were relieved and moved to Vancouver Camp in the Halifax Area for 7 days before being bussed to the Renescure Area.
The following day they marched 22 miles to Campagne-lez-Boulonnais for training and a week later they moved to Hebusent for training.
Whilst here Albert was granted 2 weeks leave to England on the 8th of December and when he rejoined his Battalion, they were located at Wulverghem.

On Christmas Day 1917 they moved into the front line and relieved the 10th Battalion east of Messines for 7 days. The 10th Battalion then relieved them 7 days later and this rotation continued until the 1st of February when they moved to Neuve Eglise on fatigue duty and training.
Then on the 4th of February Albert was sent to a 6 day Musketry Course in the Tilques area and whilst here he was apprehended in Bailleul for being in the town with out a written pass and warded 4 days Field Punishment No.2.
On the 2nd of March they were bussed to Voormezeele and relieved the 15th Battalion as a support Battalion in the line at Hill 60, before relieving the 10th Battalion in the front line.
After 4 weeks they were relieved and moved by light rail to La Clytte, bussed to Borre, entrained at Caestre, marched through Amiens to Coisy and into billets at Flesselles for 2 days.
Their next move was to Amiens on the 12th of April where they bivouacked at the Citadel and then entrained the next day from St Roch Station. They detrained at Hondeghem and marched to Borre and were engaged to dig a line of defence around Borre.

Pradelles was their next move in the support lines before moving to Strazeele in the snow and the front line.
By the end of April they had moved back to Borre and whilst here, on the 1st of May, Albert suffered Gastroenteritis and was admitted into the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station at Ebblinghem. The following day he was admitted into the 3rd Canadian General Hospital in Etaples and then 7 days later he was discharged to No.7 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne before being transferred to No.5 Rest Camp, St Martins.

On the 14th of May he was discharged to the 1st ADBD in Etaples and then rejoined his Battalion 8 days later at Sercus, in the reserve line.
June was spent in and out of the front line at La Kreule and Sercus and whilst in camp at Sercus an extremely contagious epidemic of Influenza broke out and over 200 men were evacuated out of the Battalion.
Their next move was into support at Hazebrouck and then in early July they were in Weke Meulin Camp and in and out of the front line.
By the end of July they moved to L’Hoffman were they bivouacked before moving to Arques on the 6th of August and then to Poulainville 2 days later.

Subsequently, Albert and his Battalion participated in the last Allied offensive of 1918, launched near Amiens on the 8th of August.
After Amiens, a series of advances followed as the Allies broke through the Hindenburg Line and they continued operations until late September 1918 when they withdrawn from the line for rest.

By the 20th of September they had moved to Tincourt and Albert again suffered from Balls Palsy and was admitted into the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station at Doingt.
Tow days later he was transferred to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen and then on the 24th of September he was invalided to England on board HT Aberdonian and admitted into the Dorsett General Hospital.
He spent a further 3 weeks here before being discharged to 2 weeks leave on the 17th of October and then reported to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny.

With the signing of the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918, Albert went AWOL the following day. He was apprehended 6 days later and awarded 12 days Field Punishment No.2 and forfeited 18 days pay.

He was then posted to the Overseas Training Brigade in Sutton Veny on the 23rd of November before being posted to St Budeaux Rest Camp at Devon on the 6th of December, awaiting his return to Australia.

Albert embarked for Australia on the 14th of December 1918 on board SS Burma and after Spending Christmas 1918 on board the ship they called at Colombo.

Albert disembarked in Melbourne on the 29th of January 1919 and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

Albert was discharged from the AIF on the 7th of April 1919 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals.