ALGEO, Ethelbert
| Service Numbers: | 2882, Q106791 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 September 1916, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 16th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Bundaberg, Queensland, 2 November 1886 |
| Home Town: | Bundaberg, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural Causes (Pneumonia), Brisbane, Queensland, 4 April 1975, aged 88 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 47th Infantry Battalion, Bundaberg, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 47th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Brisbane | |
| 27 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 47th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 47th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Jan 1942: | Enlisted Private, Q106791, Bundaberg, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, Q106791, 16th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
| 20 Dec 1944: | Discharged Lance Corporal, Q106791, 16th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
| 20 Dec 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, Q106791, 16th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
My Grandfather
Bert was my Grandfather. My fathers father. He was always a very tall and strong man. I remember from my childhood that I had never met such a huge person before, or since! Grandad had sugar cane farms before the war, and was exempt, but he went anyway. After the war, he had pineapple farms at Wamuran, QLD. My grandad was a generous man to his grandkids. He would always be buying us little things. His end was long and drawn out. He suffered for many years at Canossa Hospital, and many times we were called up say our goodbyes, and he would continue on. I last saw him a few weeks before he passed and I could not appreciate that this emaciated figure lying witless on the bed was my huge grandad. I couldn't go back after that. He passed in 1975, and I wish I could have had time to talk to him about his war service and his life in general. He was no hero, nor was he anything but an ordinary Australian, but to me he was my grandad, and a hero to me. Grandad, I thank you for doing your bit to preserve the freedoms we have today. I hope future generations do not forget the sacrifices you and your mates made. Peace to you.
Submitted 1 February 2015 by Trevor Algeo
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