Alfred Aubrey
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
Alfred was an accountant from St Kilda when he enlisted as a 26 year old in September 1915. He attended officer training and became a Lieutenant.
He suffered appendicitis and resulting peritonitis in 1916 and the a bomb training accident which injured his eyes. He finally left for Europe in February 1917.
Alfred was wounded in action in May 1918 and remained on duty. Then in August received a gun shot wound to the left hand. They tried to save his little finger but it got infected and was amputated.
He returned to Australia at the end of the war.
Alfred has no record of race wins prior to the war. However the 1919-20 annual report of his club records his return from active service and that he made his way down to the club shortly after landing and returned to take an active part in the sport once more. Sadly he did not continue his association with the sport after that time.
Andrew Guerin
August 2021