Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Alfred Edward Waters, 31, was a plumber from Inverell in NSW who had completed his apprenticeship at Quirindi. He was married to Lemena Alice Waters and they lived at 23 Elsham Road, Auburn. The family were members of the St Philip’s Anglican Church, Auburn.
Waters enlisted at Warwick Farm on 18 August 1915 and embarked on the Warilda on 8 October 1915. He was too late for Gallipoli, but he must have reached Egypt by 30 December 1915 as he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star.
The first date indicating overseas service for Waters is 3 February 1916, when he was taken on strength of the 3rd Battalion, First Australian Division, at Tel el Kebir in Egypt. He proceeded with his battalion to France, disembarking at Marseilles on 28 March 1916. The 1st Australian Division started in the Nursery Sector of the Western Front, but in July was brought down to join the First Battle of the Somme, which was raging around the village of Pozières. Early in the battle, Waters was wounded and he spent the next two months in military hospitals in France with wounds and dysentry.
Returning to his battalion in Belgium in September 1916, he fought on until he was wounded again in December 1916. This was a more serious wound and Waters was taken to the Middlesex War Hospital in the United Kingdom. He was in the UK for 10 months, during which time he was disciplined for two instances of AWL. For the first he was away for three days and he had to forfeit seven days’ pay. For the second, he had to do five days Field Punishment N°2 for being AWL for a night out.
Waters returned to Belgium and his battalion on 15 October 1917. They were now involved in the terrible Passchendaele offensive. He was killed in action 13 days later. He had been been in the AIF for two years and two months.
Waters was buried in the Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery near Ypres (Ieper). For his gravestone his wife chose the inscription: TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE.
Alfred Waters is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip's Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20
- 1914-1915 Star
