WRIGGLESWORTH, Alfred

Alfred Wrigglesworth was 23 years old when he enlisted at Prahran on 17/8/1914. He claimed to have been born and lived at 'Woodlands', 87 Wellington Parade, Jolimont, but it is probable that he was actually born in Wellington, New Zealand, where he went to school at Wellington College and, in his senior years, was a member of the Wellingon College Cadets. He was by trade a broker. His father, James Dacie Wrigglesworth, had died on 25/10/1906 and his mother was cited as next of kin, Mrs Belle (Isabel) Wrigglesworth, nee Waters Sutherland, was then domiciled at Ruffinstrasse 8#, Munchen. It would seem that she then returned to Australia and was registered as living at Woodlands after the war, then moving back to New Zealand.

Alfred Wrigglesworth was tall - 5'11'', blonde, with blue eyes and fair skin. He had been with the Australian Field Artillery pre-war, so had some military training. He was attached to the 5th Battalion of the AIF, which left Australia on 21 October, 1914, on board HMAT Orvieto . The 5th Battalion, led by Lieutenant Colonel D S Wanliss, was part of the second wave of ANZACs landing at Anzac Cove. Ten days later, they were moved Cape Helles and took part in the flawed attack on the village of Krithia.  After this, they were sent back to Anzac Cove, but in August, took part in the Battle of Lone  Pine.

Alfred Wrigglesworth was by then back in Egypt. On 27/7/15, he was transferred by ship to Port Said for hospital treatment for typhoid and enteritis. This was followed, on 8 December, 1914, with influenza.He was then returned to England and admitted to King George's Hospital, Stamford,  on 30/8/1915. On 29/12/1915, he left the AIF and transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. On 27/12/1915, he was granted a 2nd Lieutenancy in the Special Reserve of Officers and sent for training at Bedford School of Instruction.

He was killed in action in France, most probably at the Battle of Guillemont (3-4 September, 1916), part of the intermediate phase of the Somme when the British Army attacked strongly held German positions. The Germans fought back strongly and Alfred Wrigglesworth was one of those who died on 4 September 1916. His life is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Picardie, France