LOFDAHL, Alfred
| Service Number: | 4699 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Umea, Vasterbotten, Sweden , 17 November 1878 |
| Home Town: | Punchbowl, Canterbury, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wharf Labourer |
| Died: | Rupture of “anumpare haemopericordium.”, United KingdomWorgret Camp Hospital, Wareham, Dorset, England , 11 May 1917, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Wareham Cemetery, Dorset, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4699, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4699, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
Help us honour Alfred Lofdahl's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Alfred Lofdahl was born on 17th November, 1878 in Umea, Vasterbotten, Sweden to parents Alfred Samuel and Mary Annie Lofdahl.
He served with the Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guards in the South African War from 1899 to 1902. His regimental number was 1249.
According to information supplied by his widow for the Roll of Honour - Alfred Lofdahl came to Australia when he was 23 years of age. From the Naturalization Records, Alfred Lofdahl arrived in Australia in May, 1906 on the Excelsior & disembarked at the port of Hobart, Tasmania. He was an Able Seaman.
Alfred Lofdahl married Mary Ann Date (nee Beaumont) in 1916 in the district of Canterbury, New South Wales.
A birth was registered in 1916 in Canterbury, NSW for Eric S. Lofdahl – parents Alfred & Mary A. Lofdahl.
On 8th January, 1916 Alfred Lofdahl, of Bonds Road, Punchbowl applied for a Certificate of Naturalization. He stated he was a married, Wharf Labourer with 3 children & had lived in Australia for 10 years in Sydney & Canterbury, NSW. He took an Oath of Allegiance on 8th January, 1916.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 1st February, 1916 as a 37 year old, married, Wharf Labourer from Bonds Road, Punchbowl, NSW.
Private Alfred Lofdahl, Service number 4699, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 13th April, 1916 with the 18th Infantry Battalion, 12th Reinforcements.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 5th September, 1916 Private Alfred Lofdahl proceeded overseas to France from 5th Training Battalion in England. He was marched in from England to 2nd Australian Divisional Base at Etaples, France on 6th September, 1916. Private Lofdahl joined 18th Battalion in the field on 14th September, 1916 from 12th Reinforcements.
He reported sick on 21st November, 1916. Private Lofdahl was admitted to 1st Anzac M.D.S. on 22nd November, 1916 then transferred & admitted to 6th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 25th November, 1916 suffering from Trench Feet. Private Lofdahl was transferred to England on Hospital Ship Aberdonian on 4th December, 1916.
On 5th December, 1916 Private Lofdahl was admitted to 2nd Birmingham War Hospital, England with Trench Feet. Private Lofdahl was discharged to furlough on 11th January, 1917 & was then to report to Perham Downs on 26th January, 1917.
He was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire from Furlough & was medically classified as B1 A (temporarily unfit for General Service).
Private Lofdahl was marched in to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset on 31st January, 1917 from Perham Downs,
On 23rd March, 1917 Private Lofdahl was transferred from 18th Battalion to 61st Battalion while posted at Wareham. He was taken on strength of 61st Battalion on 23rd March, 1917.
Private Alfred Lofdahl died on 11th May, 1917 at Worgret Camp Hospital, Wareham, Dorset, England from Rupture of “anumpare haemopericordium.” (Note – The Field Service Army Form B. 2090A – Reporting the death of a Soldier has the place of death as Morgret Camp Hospital). Notification from Brigade Major, 16th Brigade, Worgret Camp to Administrative Headquarters A.I.F., London, states that Pte Alfred Lofdahl, 61st Battalion died “in Battalion lines today.” The Statement of Service form for Pte Alfred Lofdahl records that he died “in Hut A22 about 09.00.”
He was buried in Wareham Cemetery, Wareham, Dorset, England where 12 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are laid to rest.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/wareham---dorset.html
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