8th Infantry Battalion
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Alfred John Vale (SN 283) born in Beaufort, was a 30 year old blacksmith when he enlisted in Ballarat on August 18th 1914. He embarked aboard the Benalla on October 19th and sailed to Egypt. He served with the 8th Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli until October when he received a gunshot wound to his foot and was evacuated first to Mudros and then to England. He later served in France and transferred to the 5th Division Ammunition Column. Illness, particularly influenza, limited his time in France and he avoided further injury. He returned to Australia aboard the Kildonian Castle, disembarked at Melbourne on May 7th 1919 and was discharged on May 21st.
