Training in Aldershot, 1917

Jan Colliver tells the poignant story of her great uncle Hughie Waldren of Ascot Vale. He enlisted with 6 Infantry Brigade in August 1915, but a pre-war episode of rheumatic fever came back to haunt him while training in Egypt, and he was returned to Australia unfit for further service.  Undeterred, a few months later he volunteered for the Army Medical Corps, and spent some time in Home Service before again embarking for overseas service.  The photo above shows him - number 4 in the back row - while in training at Aldershot in June 1917.  Two months later he was in France with the 46 Inf Battalion. Read Jan's story here.