LIDDELOW, Aubrey
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 59th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tarraville, Victoria, Australia, 10 November 1876 |
| Home Town: | Malvern East, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Scotch College, Melbourne, and Melbourne Teachers College, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | State School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France , 19 July 1916, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Barwon Downs State School No. 2866 Roll of Honor, Glen Iris St. Andrew's Gardiner Methodist Church Memorial Window, Parkville Old State College Memorial Windows, Steiglitz State School Roll of Honor, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to left ankle | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 13 Jul 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, slightly wounded | |
| 20 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 59th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 59th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 59th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Andreena Hockley
"Captain Aubrey Liddelow was the husband of Mrs. F. T. Liddelow, of 29 Osborne-avenue, Malvern, and son of the late Arthur Liddelow. He was born on the 10th of November, 1876.
He matriculated in May, 1893, and joined the service of the Education Department in 1895, being appointed junior teacher at School No. 1567, Central Richmond. He was afterwards teaching at Milloo East, Werrap, Armadale, Rhyll, Barwon Downs, Hallam's Road, Steiglitz, Hawksburn, and the Melbourne High School. He bore the reputation of a zealous, capable, and intelligent teacher.
He enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 11th of November, 1914, and embarked with the 1st Reinforcements to the 8th Battalion on the transport Themistocles on the 22nd of December. After training in Egypt, he proceeded to Gallipoli, and took part with his unit in the Landing. He was twice wounded on Gallipoli, and was there for the evacuation.
After returning to Egypt, he was transferred to the 59th Battalion and promoted Captain. He went with this unit to France on the 18th of June, 1916, and was killed on the 19th of July in the fighting at Fromelles.
His widow wrote:
"I believe you know that Aubrey left here in December following the outbreak of war, and landed in Gallipoli on that memorable day, 25th April, 1915. He was twice wounded there, but he returned in time for the evacuation. In June, he left Egypt for France. On the 19th of July, Aubrey was posted as "missing." For many months, we could gain no tidings of him; but, early in the new year, several wounded men of my husband's company returned to Australia, and one man said:
"I was with the Captain from the time he went over our parapet until all was over, as far as this world is concerned, for a noble hero. On going over our parapet, the Captain was wounded in the head; but he rose at once and led us on, for, by that time, he was in charge of the Battalion. He reached the German lines with only a handful of men left, and, in going over their parapet, he was again wounded this time in the shoulder and then in the arm; but nothing daunted him. In order to spare the few men remaining, he withdrew us, and we took shelter in a shell crater until reinforcements should come, when we would attack to better purpose. I had been wounded by this time, and I had had quite enough, so I went to the Captain and begged him to return with me, as his wounds needed attention. But he said, "I'll never walk back into safety and leave the men I've led into such grave danger! We'll wait for reinforcements.'
He then ordered me back, but I had gone only about ten yards when a shell ended the life of a hero if ever there was one. Many of his men have since proved this statement perfectly, and all speak beautifully of their Captain. One man said, "He was not only our Captain, but our friend and a Christian gentleman.""
Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.
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