Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alexander Gustav Bracken was born on 21 August 1884 in Horsham, Victoria, to Alfred Thomas Bracken (1855-1929) and Catherine Mary Johnson (1862-1910). On 25 September 1915, at the age of 30, Bracken enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), joining the 10th Battery, 4th Field Artillery Brigade. At the time, he lived in Montague Street, South Melbourne, with his wife, Edith Belle Hartley Newman (1889-1934), and their two children, Ruby Isobel (1909-1968) and Norman Alexander (1911-1979). He was assigned the service number 6311 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 18 November 1915, bound for Egypt.

Upon arriving at Suez on 15 December 1915, Bracken and his unit disembarked to find the AIF in a period of transition. With the veterans of Gallipoli returning and new reinforcements arriving from Australia, the Australian government had decided to expand the AIF. Many soldiers, including Bracken, were transferred between units to balance experienced veterans with those who had yet to experience combat.

Bracken’s transfers during this time were frequent. On 9 March 1916, while stationed at Tel-el-Kebir, he was transferred to the 5th Division Artillery, and the following day he was Taken on Strength (TOS) with the 49th Battery, 4th Field Artillery Brigade. His time with the 49th Battery was brief, as he was moved again on 8 April 1916 to the 52nd Battery, part of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, at Moascar.

On 16 June 1916, Bracken departed Egypt, embarking from Alexandria aboard HMT Tunisian and disembarking in Marseilles, France, on 23 June 1916. The Western Front offered a new theatre of war after the sands of Egypt, and within weeks, Bracken was transferred yet again, this time to the 25th Field Artillery Brigade on 9 July 1916. On 26 July, he was mustered as a Gunner, previously a Driver, under AIF Orders 785 and 920.

In August 1916, Bracken was assigned as Batman to Lieutenant Charles Muslo Compigne Chase (1888-1951), a Queensland-born officer who had attended Melbourne Grammar School. Chase had sailed aboard the Wiltshire with Bracken and transferred to the 52nd Battery at the same time, suggesting the two men had likely developed a close working relationship. Both were of a similar age, and Bracken’s selection as Chase’s Batman probably reflected a high level of trust and familiarity.

In late 1916, Bracken experienced his first of multiple health issues. On 1 December 1916, he reported to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station with piles, which kept him away from his unit until early February 1917. Upon recovery, he was posted to the 49th Battery on 10 February 1917. Lieutenant Chase had transferred from the 52nd to the 49th Battery just over two weeks earlier, and possibly requested his former Batman to join him.

On 28 May 1917, Bracken was admitted to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station with a gunshot wound to his arm (recorded as "G.S.W. ARM" in his service papers). The previous day, during heavy German shelling of the 49th Battery’s position, Lieutenant Chase had also been wounded. Chase’s service records note a "GSW – back," though the war diary suggests his injury was likely caused by an artillery shell:

“During morning 49th Bty. Position 7a 63 62 heavily shelled by 5.9 enemy howitzer battery. 2 guns damaged and rendered out of action. Lieut. W.F. Matthews killed, Lieut. C.M. Chase wounded in back and evacuated to Hospital.”

The Battery relocated to Sunken Road, but the new position was also shelled on 28 May. It’s possible Bracken's wound, like Chase’s, was caused by shrapnel rather than a direct gunshot. Despite his injury, Bracken rejoined his unit on 8 June 1917, suggesting the wound was minor, perhaps a graze from shrapnel.

A month later, Bracken was granted two weeks of leave. Unfortunately, during this time, he contracted venereal disease, a common issue among Australian soldiers in Egypt and France. His service records note a 51-day period of VD incapacity, though, unlike many soldiers, there is no record of forfeiture of pay for this period. In late 1917, Bracken’s health deteriorated further when he was admitted to the 40th Stationary Hospital at Harfleur with gastritis on 8 November. After a month of unsuccessful treatment, he was repatriated to England.

On 21 April 1918, Bracken sailed back to Australia aboard HMAT A29 Suevic, arriving in Melbourne on 7 June 1918. He was officially discharged from military service on 28 September 1918.

After the war, Bracken settled in Caulfield, Victoria, with his family. On 5 November 1961, at the age of 77, he passed away in Caulfield and was laid to rest in Fawkner Cemetery, Victoria.