No.3108  Edward Arthur Aldridge
Edward Arthur Aldridge was born on 17 November 1887 in Horsham, Sussex, England and baptised, at the local church, on 29 January 1888.

Edward was the third of four children to parents, Arthur and Emma Jane Aldridge (nee Beeching). His siblings were:

•  Alice Emma - born 26 February 1885, Horsham, Sussex. Died 20 August 1979, Horsham, Sussex, England
• Arthur John - born 30 April 1886, Horsham, Sussex. Died 1 December 1976, Hillingdon, London, England
• Norman - born 1889, Horsham, Sussex *
• Alice Rowland (1918) Died 31 October 1918, London 

Along with his parents and siblings, Edward was listed in the 1891 census as living at 31 Bedford Road, Horsham.  By the time of the 1901 census, his father, Arthur, had died and the family were living at 12 Arthur Rd, Horsham.

On 1 October 1909, Edward sailed to Melbourne from London as a 3rd class passenger aboard the Orient liner, Otranto. His occupation was listed as 'farmer’'

Edward next appeared in the 1916 Australian Electoral Roll where he was an 'orchard hand' living at Eastcott Orchard in Werribee.  Mr William F. Salmon owned this property, situated in Tarneit Road.  A number of advertisements, looking for fruit pickers, appeared in the local press in 1915 and 1916.
Advertisement: Werribee Shire Banner, 16 December 1915, p.2.
Editorial: Werribee Shire Banner, 16 December 1915, p.2.

War Service
Edward Alfred Aldridge, enlisted in the AIF at Geelong, on 17 November 1916.

His attestation papers listed his birthplace as Horsham, Sussex and his next of kin as his mother, Mrs Emma Jane Aldridge, 34 Arthur Road, Horsham, Sussex, England. He listed a further contact as W.F. Salman [Salmon] of Werribee, Victoria. This would be the owner of Eastcott Orchard.

Edward stated that he was previously rejected for service on the grounds of "vision".  His medical report listed him as: 28 years 11 months in age, 5 feet 10 inches in height with, brown complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His religion was listed as Church of England.

Along with other members of the 57th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement, Edward embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 16 December 1916.

After initial training at Hurdcott army camp in Wiltshire, England, Edward was transferred to the 17th Field Ambulance and proceeded to France.

On 22 March 1918, he was reported as 'wounded in action' as a result of being gassed.  Later, in September of the same year, Edward received treatment for a middle ear infection.

In April 1919, Edward applied for and was granted leave to undertake a three-month course in accountancy and secretarial work at Clarks Business College in Chancery Lane, London.  The course ran from 25 April to 25 July 1919, with the fee of three guineas.  The College reported Edward completed the course on 25 July with "very satisfactory work".

Edward returned to Australia on 8 September 1919, aboard the steamer, Raranga.

Post War
In the 1919 Australian Electoral Roll, Edward is again listed as an "orchard hand" at Eastcott Orchard in Werribee, Victoria.

In the early 1920s, Edward moved to Brisbane where he lived and worked as a clerk; he never married and lived for many years in Veronica a guest house located in Upper Edward Street, Brisbane.

Edward died on 28 June 1943 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery on 30 June 1943.  Notices were published in newspapers:
Family notice: The Telegraph (Brisbane), 29 June 1943, p.6.
Obituary: The Telgraph (Brisbane), 30 June 1943, p.6.
Funeral Notice: The Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 30 June 1943, p.6.

Medals and Entitlements:

• British War Medal
• Victory Medal

A.I.F. Project
www.aif.adfa.edu.au

Ancestry.com

Australian War Memorial
awm.gov.au