Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Augusta-Margret River Mail 22 January 2016-  By Pauline Graves – Margaret River Historical Society

Alfred Thomas "Cedar" Armstrong- Unit number 3770

ALFRED, more affectionately known as "Cedar", was one of four children belonging to James Armstrong and Eliza Keenan. Born in 1897 at Quindalup, he grew up with his father working at the M.C. Davies timber mill in Karridale. When he was old enough, Cedar himself worked variously as a timber cutter and a farm hand. He was 18 years old when he enlisted at Busselton on November 30, 1915, and was sent to the Blackboy Hill Army Training camp in Perth. Here he spent three months before embarking from Fremantle aboard the HMAT A28 "Miltiades" in February.

The army posted Cedar to the 28th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements, and by December that year he had been promoted to Lance Corporal. In the same month, following his attendance at the Telescopic Sight School, he was a awarded a commendation for a "very extraordinary result". The year that followed, however, was a sad one as Cedar was first hospitalised with fever for 11 days and wounded in action soon after.

He had been sitting on the end of his camp bed, putting on his boots when a bomb exploded nearby. Both legs were hit with shrapnel and he was hospitalised for five months. During this time, he was transferred between three hospitals in France.  On the mend by September 10, 1917, the army organised Cedar's return to Australia aboard the HTA A38 "Ulysses". He was discharged from the army in March, 1918.

Following the war, in which his brother Chris was killed in action, Cedar married Levessa "Vessie" Cotton and had three children, Cedar George, Kenneth John and Christopher James. In 1924, Cedar sold a block of land he had bought after his return and with the proceeds established Armstrongs' Drapery and Boot Store on Wallcliffe Road.

The little family moved into the farm that Chris had owned before his death, situated on the corner of Carters Road and Caves Road. While there, they renamed the property 'Mouquet Farm' and set up a small nine-hole golf course, which was the forerunner of the present-day golf club. 1940 found Cedar enlisting in the army again and he was posted to the 19th Garrison Battalion before returning home.

In 1946, he bought his grandfather's property "Glenbourne" and continued to live life as a farmer. Eventually feeling like a change, Cedar and Cessie moved to Busselton where they continued business until 1967. Cedar played golf and lawn bowls in his retirement and was a keen gardener.

He died 1985 in Busselton and is buried at the Margaret River Cemetery.

To commemorate the men who served and those who had died at war, the Margaret River community commissioned the making of the Memorial Board with the names of the local men. Cedar refused to have his name added to the board, but in memory and gratitude of his service the Margaret River Historical & Districts Society has included him in their display. These profiles are part of an exhibition at the Bramley School, Old Margaret River Settlement, for the commemoration of the Anzac centenary.