Alfred WARDROP
Alfred Wardrop (Courtesy of Gary Wardrop)
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4908), Alfred Wardrop was born at Pyramul, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 28 years and 6 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as ‘no particular trade’. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 9 inches tall, weight 11 stone, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. His religious denomination was Anglican. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He completed his medical on 7th October 1915 at Gilgandra, and was attested by Captain Nicholas at Gilgandra on 9th October 1915.
After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
The people of his home town of Pyramul gave him a farewell social and presentation when he was home on leave in February 1916.[2]
Along with fellow Coo-ees Privates W. Howard, J. Maher, C. Marchant, V. Quinton, L. L. Maguire, L. Greenleaf, T. Turvey, H. Baxter, and Signallers A. Lynne and J. Quinn, Private Wardrop was ‘entertained at a monster send-off’ in the Australian Hall on Friday, 3rd March 1916, when in Gilgandra on final leave.[3]
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was ‘Pyramel’ [sic], via Mudgee, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, R. Wardrup, at the same address. His trade or calling was recorded as labourer.
On 8th March 1916 Private Maguire along with many of the other Coo-ees departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.
After arriving in Egypt he was transferred to the 45th Battalion on the 19th April 1916.
On 2nd June 1916 Private Wardrop left Alexandria aboard the Transport Kinafauns Castle bound for France, and arrived at Marseilles on 8th June 1916.
Private Wardrop served with the 45th Battalion through its first action at Fleurbaix, France in July 1916, then as it moved to Pozieres in early August 1916.
On 16th August 1916 the 45th Battalion had just been relieved from the front line trenches between Pozieres and Martinpuich, France. Private Wardrop had suffered a gun shot wound to his right hand, and was evacuated to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. He was then moved by Ambulance Train, and admitted to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 17th August 1916.
On 21st August 1916 he was sent by the Hospital Ship Asturias to England. On 22nd August 1916 he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth, London, England.
On 8th September 1916 Private Wardrop was discharged from Hospital, and granted leave. On 27th September 1916 he reported back from leave to the No. 1 Command Depot at Pernham Downs, England.
On 11th November 1916 Private Wardrop departed England for return to France.
On 13th November 1916 he marched into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.
On 4th of December 1916 Private Wardrop rejoined the 45th Battalion when it was resting at Dernacourt, France.
On 23rd February 1917 Private Wardrop was with the 45th Battalion when it was engaged in action in the vicinity of Stormy Trench, north east of Guedecourt, France, when he was wounded in action, receiving gunshot wounds to his left foot and left leg, and right thigh. He was evacuated to the 14th Australian Field Ambulance, then back to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station.
On 26th February 1917 Private Wardrop was placed aboard the 31st Ambulance Train, and moved to the St Johns Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples, France.
On 12th March 1917 his left foot was amputated three inches above the ankle.
On 13th March 1917 he was evacuated to hospital in England from Le Havre aboard the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle.
On 14th March 1917 Private Wardrop was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth, England.
While he was recovering in this hospital, he wrote a letter home to his mother in Pyramul, which was published in the Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, in which he wrote: “[Sending] a line to let you know that I am getting along well now. … I am in the same hospital now as I was when I was wounded before, but I cannot get [around] like I could before. I am wounded pretty badly this time, but am over the worst of it now … I have no pain at all. I [had] my left foot off above the [ankle], a wound in the thigh on the … leg, and one under the knee on the right leg … I … go back to Australia after a few months. You have no need to worry about me in any way, as I am getting along fine, and am as happy as I ever I was. I will be able to get up in a chair in a few weeks. The same shell got [five] others, killing three – and wounding three of us. I was one of the lucky ones again, as I was between two of my mates who were killed”.[4]
On 15th September 1917 Private Wardrop was transferred to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall, England.
On 4th October 1917 Private Wardrop was granted leave to report back to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 18th October 1917.
He was granted leave again from 3rd January 1918 to 6th January 1918.
Private Wardrop commenced his return to Australia on 10th January 1918 aboard the H.T. Corinthic.
He arrived in Sydney on 7th March 1918.
He was discharged medically unfit on 6th September 1918.
[1] NAA: B2455, WARDROP ALFRED
[2] ‘Pyramul’, Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, 21 February 1916, p. 2. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156945383
[3] ‘District News’, Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, 9 March 1916, p. 30. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156951725
[4] ‘Wounded in France’, Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, 28 May 1917, p. 4. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157120908
1915 Coo-ee March 