Alexander Norman Comrie was born in Ballarat and was a Labourer by trade when he enlisted in the 39th Battalion, B Company on 18 October 1915 at the age of 43. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 27 May 1916. His previous volunteer military service stood him in good stead and he was rapidly promoted, reaching Warrant Officer Class 2 by February 1916. On January 7th 1917 he suffered a severe gunshot wound to the head which left him with a depressed fracture of his skull. He was evacuated to the King George Hospital in England, gravely ill, but was able to survive. He was not fit to return to active service so he returned home on the Euripides and was discharged æmedically unfit' in October 1917. Despite the severity of his wounds, he lived on for another 30 years.
Tree No 1937