War stole dreams of a new life

WITH help from the Museum of Australia and Sydney’s State Library, Keith Lawrence of Biggleswade has finalised his research on Australian emigrant Albert Edward Field, son of a Stratton Park gardener featured on February 25, 2011.

He says: “Following Albert’s return to Australia after WW1 and his discharge from service on April 20, 1919, he and his wife Lizzie moved to Villiers Bretonneux, Everett Street, Lilyville, South Randwick where they lived for ten years. He was registered as a carpenter until 1926 while Lizzie registered for house duty until 1928. From 1930 neither of them were registered at that address.”

Had Everett Street been a care home, accounting for Lizzie’s house duties? Checking Albert’s Army Service records, it was discovered that during service in France with the 35th Battalion of the 7th Reinforcements Australian Imperial Force, he had been both gassed and wounded in 1918 and invalided to the UK where he spent 10 months in Reading War Hospital.

On his return to Australia, sadly it would appear that he may have suffered an early death as a result of his injuries at the age of only 39.