The AIF Project
Alfred Olsen
First Name:
Alfred
Last Name:
Olsen
Date of Birth:
Thursday, October 3, 1889
Mother's Name:
Mary Olsen (nee Murphy)
Father's Name:
Walter Olsen
Date Enlisted:
Tuesday, January 11, 1916
Rank at Enlistment:
Private
Rank at Discharge:
Private
Unit:
34th battalion
Company:
B Company
Service:
Infantry
Awards:
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death:
Tuesday, March 31, 1959
Details:
Alfred Olsen (Service No 526) was born in Newcastle but moved to Mount Kembla with his family and attended Mount Kembla school.
He enlisted in West Maitland on 11 January, 1916 when he was 27 years old, and working as a miner
Alfred embarked from Sydney with B Company, 34th Battalion on HMAT A20 Honorata on 2nd May, 1916. Alfred served on the Western Front and on 26 August 1917 he was transferred to the 9th Machine Gun Company. This was a particularly dangerous job as neither side had any compassion for machine gunners.
Alfred was gassed while fighting on 22nd April, 1918 and admitted to hospital for treatment, his wound being classed as severe.
He was returned to Australia in February 1919 and subsequently discharged from the AIF.
Sources:
NAA: B2455, OLSEN ALFRED
