Tag Archives: Gilgandra recruits

Alfred Rupert Clyde LINGSTROM (aka Alf LYNNE)

Alfred Rupert Lynne “Pug”, 1915 (Photograph courtesy of Gilgandra Shire Library)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4834), Alfred Rupert Clyde Lingstrom was born at Dubbo, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 21 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as Postal Assistant.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 6 ½ inches, weight 112 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair.  His religious denomination was Methodist.  He completed his medical examination on 13^th October 1915 at Dubbo (the day the Coo-ees arrived in Dubbo), but was not attested until 26^th October 1915 at Bathampton (after he had caught up with the Coo-ees).  He claimed to have had no previous military service. He stated that he was a member of the Geurie Rifle Club.

An article in the Wellington Times dated 28^th October 1915 reported that ‘Mr. [W. W.] Smith and Mr. Lynne responded to the call for recruits when the Coo-ees from Gilgandra spent a night in Geurie’ [on Friday 15^th October 1915], ‘but neither could join immediately, as the former had a big task in handing over all the shire books to his successor, and Mr. Lynne had to remain in his position at the local [Geurie] post-office till a relief man could be sent along’, and that ‘Mr. Lynne himself hails from the home of the Coo-ees (Gilgandra) so should find himself among friends when he joins them’.[2]

Alfred Lingstrom, reported as “A. Lynne” in The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, following a send off provided by the Geurie community, travelled by train from Geurie with fellow Geurie Coo-ee William Smith on Tuesday 26^th October 1915, to catch up with the Coo-ees at Blayney.[3]

He was known as one of the Gilgandra Coo-ees.

After completing the remainder of the Coo-ee March, he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

Private Lingstrom attended a Signal School at Liverpool from 25^th December 1915 to 2^nd February 1916.[4]

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Warren Street, Gilgandra, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs. E. [Emily] Lingstrom, at the same address.

Private Lingstrom, along with many of the Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England on 8^th March 1916, as 15^th reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on 11^th April 1916.

On the 16^th May 1916 he was transferred to the Signal Section of the Engineers Training Depot at Tel-el Kebir.

On the 15^th October 1916 Private Lingstrom was taken on strength of the ANZAC Mounted Division Signal Squadron at Romani.

On 1^st February 1917 Private Lingstrom was sent to hospital sick. On 12^th February 1917 he was admitted to the 14^th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia, Egypt, suffering from Bronchitis.  He was transferred to a Convalescent Depot on 20^th February 1917.

On 9^th March 1917 Private Lingstrom was charged with (1) breaking out of barracks about 6 p.m. and remaining absent until apprehended by the Military Police about 7.30 p.m. on 8^th March 1917, (2) being out of bounds by being in Wagh el Burka Street, and (3) neglecting to obey Garrison orders by not wearing identity discs.  He was awarded 3 days confined to barracks and fined 4 days pay.

On 12^th March 1917 Private Lingstrom was sent to the 1^st Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar, Egypt.  On 20^th March 1917 he was moved to the Base Signal Depot at Alexandria, Egypt.  On 27^th of April 1917 he rejoined the ANZAC Mounted Division Signal Squadron.

On 9^th May 1917 Private Lingstrom went to hospital sick. He was admitted to Citadel Military Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, on 12^th May 1917, suffering from Debility.  He was discharged to a Convalescent Depot at Abbassia, Egypt, on 19^th May 1917.

On 30^th May 1917 Private Lingstrom was charged with overstaying his pass from 8 p.m. until apprehended by the Military Police about 9.40 p.m., and being out of bounds, on 28^th May 1917.  He was fined 2 days pay.

On 2^nd June 1917 Private Lingstrom was transferred to the British Red Cross Convalescent Depot at Montagah, Egypt.

On 14^th June 1917 Private Lingstrom was discharged to the Base Signal Depot at Alexandria, Egypt.

On 28^th July 1917 he rejoined the ANZAC Mounted Division Signal Squadron.

On 28^th January 1918 Private Lingstrom was charged with whilst being on active service for failed to salute an officer on 25^th January 1918.  He was awarded 5 days confined to camp.

On 2^nd March 1918 Private Lingstrom was sent to the Base Signal Depot at Alexandria, Egypt.  On 28^th March 1918 he rejoined the ANZAC Mounted Division Signal Squadron.

On 11^th August 1918 Private Lingstrom was sent to a Rest Camp at Port Said, Egypt.

On 1^st September 1918 he was sent to the Signals Training Unit at Moascar, Egypt.

On 12^th February 1919 he rejoined the ANZAC Mounted Division Signal Squadron.

On 6^th March 1919 Private Lingstrom was promoted to Temporary 2^nd Corporal.  He was promoted to 2^nd Corporal on 24^th June 1919.

2^nd Corporal Lingstrom began his return to Australia aboard the H.T. Malta at Kantara, Egypt, on 3^rd July 1919.

He arrived in Australia on 10^th August 1919, and was discharged on 3^rd October 1919.

[1] NAA: B2455, LINGSTROM ALFRED RUPERT CLYDE

[2] ‘Round the Wellington District’, Wellington Times, 28 October 1915, p. 7. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143392877

[3] ‘Geurie’, The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate , 29 October 1915, p. 2. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77601626

[4] ‘Gilgandra’, Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, 15 February 1916, p. 3. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228635701