BLACK, Alexander William
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Depot Battalion |
| Born: | Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Wondai, South Burnett, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Measles and pneumonia, Australia, 20 March 1916, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 11th Depot Battalion |
|---|
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Lang
BLACK Alexander William 11th Depot Battalion
Alexander Black was born in Murwillumbah NSW to parents Emily and William Black. The family moved from the Tweed valley to take up a selection in the Mondure Estate outside Wondai. They called their selection “Avondale.”
On 4th February 1916, having just turned 18, Alexander travelled to the Brisbane Recruiting Office in Adelaide Street where he produced a note from his father giving permission for their son to enlist. He proceeded to Enoggera Camp where he was taken on by the 11th Depot Battalion. He had not been allocated to a unit at that time and as a consequence has no service number. Alexander probably led a fairly secluded life and there would have been few visitors to “Avondale” as he was growing up. A consequence of this isolation was that he probably had very little natural resilience to infections.
At Enoggera, Alexander contracted measles in March 1916. His condition was considered serious and he was admitted to the Brisbane General Hospital where he died on 20th March. His death certificate states he died from measles and pneumonia. Alexander was buried in the military section of the Toowong Cemetery. His parents were informed of his death but the communication probably took so long to reach Wondai that Alexander may have already been buried before the family could travel to Brisbane.
Emily and William Black received a memorial plaque and scroll in 1923.