Alfred Thomas Duke was born in Ballarat and was a Butcher by trade when he enlisted in the 8th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement on 17 August 1916 at the age of 20. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 11 September 1916. On January 30th 1918 he was wounded in action, although his service record carries no detail. On September 20th he was wounded in action for a second time, sustaining a gunshot wound to the back which necessitated his evacuation to the Norfolk War Hospital in Norwich, England. Once recovered he rejoined his unit in France only to be wounded for a third time on August 9th 1918. On this occasion he sustained a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, and was again evacuated to England where he saw out the remaining weeks of the war. While still in England awaiting his return to Australia, he married Margaret Buchanan in London. He returned to Australia on the Katoomba, disembarking in Melbourne on September 22nd 1919.
Tree No 2498