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Alfred Fitzjames - Information

Storekeeper Alfred Fitzjames enlisted in the AIF on the 6th of January 1917 at the Royal Australian Showground Camp. At the time, he was living on Menangle St in Picton. Sadly, Alfred was a widow, his nearest relative was his son, Harold Lambert, whom resided in Waverly. During training, he was made a Private with the Railway Unit Reinforcements. He was then sent overseas from Sydney on the 7th of February 1917 onboard the HMAT Wiltshire.

Alfred arrived in Devonport in early April. He was then marched out to the Railway Section in Bordon. In May, he left Southampton for France to work with the 60th Australian Railway Operating Company. However, at the end of June he reported sick. The following month, he was admitted to the 35th General Hospital in Calais, before being evacuated to England. At the Charing Cross Hospital, he was diagnosed with neurasthenia. In England, Alfred married his girlfriend Florence Augusta. He continued to suffer with recurrent bouts of neurasthenia symptoms. He was then sent back to Australia on the 31st of October 1917 and was discharged on the 2nd of February 1918. Alfred returned home to Harold in Waverly. He then settled in South Australia, passing away in Adelaide on the 24th of May 1944.