Born in Ballarat, Victoria and a labourer by trade, Alfred Thomas Beaston was 28 years and single when enlisted on the 18th of June 1915 in the 21st Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private. Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A64 'Demosthenes' on 16 July 1915. Private taken on strength of 20th Coy from the 21st Battalion on the 8th of September 1915 and private mustered as Driver. Driver allotted new registration number of 8820 on being transferred from 2nd of 21st Battalion. Admitted to Hospital for appendicitis in France on the 28th of May 1916. On the 17th of March 1919 was admitted to Hospital sick with Bronchitis at Codford; and influenza on the 27th of April 1919 from Ship's hospital at sea and discharged from hospital at sea on the 3rd of May 1919. Embarked return to Australia per 'Trasosmontes' on the 8th of April 1919 and disembarked on the 22nd of May 1919. Discharged from the 3rd Military District on the 5th of August 1919. Tree No.746