Alfred Henry Appleyard; Fighting on the home front
Born in 1872, Alfred Henry was the oldest son of the oldest son, Alfred Henry who, following the early death of his father Peter, had taken on the patriarchal role of the family. When war was declared, Alfred was 42, considerably older than many enlisting, however, this didn’t stop him from joining his brothers and cousins who had also enlisted to fight for their country. Married to Bridget, with four children, in December 1915, the bridge builder filled out his first batch of enlistment forms. Dropping several years off his age, Alfred’s enlistment forms state that he was 35 years and 5 months. Sent to the Military Camp at Royal Park, he would be assigned to the 24 th Battalion, forming part of the 6 th Brigade and assigned to the 2 nd division. Three weeks later Alfred would be transferred to the Headquarters Company and on June 9, to the 21 st Battalion, getting closer to being sent overseas. But then on June 30, 1916, Alfred would be discharged as medically