Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Victor Carlson, son of Peter and Rose Carlson. He was born on the 16th of February 1891 in Goolwa South Australia. As a kid he grew up in Goolwa and attended the Goolwa Public school before moving to Mt Barker as a young adult. While Alfred was living in Mt Barker he met and married Mrs M E Guthrie, Mr and Mrs Carlson went on to have two young sons together before Alfred enlisted for the AIF on the 18th of June 1915 at the age of 23, he enlisted at Keswick, South Australia. Before he joined the war, he was a labourer and he had served in the Citizen Military. Alfred Victor Carlson enlisted at a Private rank to the 10th infantry battalion. When he enlisted, Private Carlson was 179cm tall and he weighed 77kg.

Alfred Victor Carlson, one of the thousands of men who lost their lives whilst fighting for our country, fighting for our freedom. His story begins when he enlisted at Keswick for the AIF. He was assigned to the 10th Infantry Battalion which included men from the Mt Barker region. The 10th Battalion set off on the HMAT Ballarat A70 from Adelaide on a long journey to where he continued training in Egypt.

The battalion first fought on the shores of Gallipoli, this attack went on for months, day after day of fighting, sickness and death. After a month of fighting the 10th battalion was sent back to retreat and regroup for re training in Egypt. Due to the regrouping and doubling of the AIF while he was in Egypt he was then moved to the 50th Infantry Battalion. The 50th Infantry Battalion consisted of men from the 10th Infantry Battalion and fresh reinforcements from Australia. The 50th Infantry Battalion was then sent to the Western Front to fight in France. Alfred arrived in France on the 11th of June 1916 and while they were in France his battalion rotated between training, labouring and fighting on the front line.

The battalion’s first major battle was fought in Mouqet farm from the 13th to the 15th of August which was a failed attempt at capturing the area. The Battalion then launched another attack on the same area on the 3rd of September. Although Private Carlson was sent to hospital from the 23rd of July 1916, he did not miss out on these battles as he returned to the war on the 29th of July 1916.

Alfred’s cousin Private James Henry Blight was also fighting in France and the time and the cousins managed to meet each other for Christmas, sharing one final meal together, being able to see each other one final time. A few days after the cousins met up Private James Henry Blight had been found dead with a bullet hole in his head and a pistol in his hand. Another innocent life lost to war. Not long after this Alfred was fighting in the fields where he was shot and killed whilst fighting to capture the town of Flers, France. Private Alfred Victor Carlson took his final breath on the 16th of January 1917 aged 25, leaving behind his wife and two children. His grave still is located at the Bulls road cemetery in Flers, France.

"...3010 Private Alfred Victor Carlson, 50th Battalion from Mount Barker, South Australia. A 23 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 18 June 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 10th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 14 September 1915 aboard HMAT Ballarat. After joining the 10th Battalion at Gallipoli in November, a month later they were evacuated to Egypt where he transferred to the 50th Battalion. While serving with the 50th Battalion in France, he was killed in action near Flers on 16 January 1917 and buried in the Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, France." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)