Studio portrait of 2778 Private (Pte) Alexander Peter Ahradsen, 13th Battalion, of Sydney, NSW. ...

Studio portrait of 2778 Private (Pte) Alexander Peter Ahradsen, 13th Battalion, of Sydney, NSW. Alexander Ahradsen, a 35 year old upholsterer working for the Marcus Clark Department Store at Newtown, Sydney, enlisted for service in the AIF on 26 July 1915 and was assigned as private to the 9th Reinforcements. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, he had served with the New Zealand Volunteer Company for six years before he emigrated to Australia. Ahradsen sailed for overseas service aboard HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 30 September 1915 and underwent training in Egypt. He qualified as a Lewis gunner and in April 1916 transferred to the Machine Gun Section of his battalion. In May he was promoted to Lance Corporal. The battalion left Egypt for service in France on 1 August 1916. Ahradsen was promoted to Corporal at the end of the month; to Lance Sergeant in January 1917 and to Sergeant in March 1917. He twice received a Divisional Commanders Congratulatory Card, in December 1916, and February 1917, for work undertaken in the Gueudecourt area. Although the recommendation for the award of the second card has not survived, it related to the battalion operations at Stormy Trench, near Guedecourt. Sgt Ahradsen was killed in action during the Battle of Bullecourt, on 11 April 1917. His wife, Emily, developed nervous paralysis when she learned of her husband's death and at one time it was feared that she would never walk again.