Snapshot of the past

A studio portrait of Alfred Horace Monger of Longwarry upon enlisting for World War I.

Each Anzac Day, Longwarry and District History Group record the story of one local man or woman who served. This is the story of a Longwarry piano tuner who headed to war in 1917.

Films and stories of those first Anzacs has created the image for many of a tall, bronzed, athletic, larrikin from the outback. No doubt there were some who fitted that description.

However, with more than 416,000 men enlisted - almost 40 per cent of the total male population between the ages of 18 to 44 - in World War I, they represented all sorts of appearances and backgrounds.

Alfred Horace Monger from Longwarry was one.

When he enlisted in July 1917, Alfred was 21-years-old, 172cm tall and weighed just 52kg.

Alfred, who lived with his parents in Longwarry, was a piano tuner and, from all reports, an accomplished pianist as well.

In an era when all entertainment was based at home or at regular dances, no doubt Alfred was a busy young man.

After his training, Private Alfred Monger was attached to the 7th Battalion and left Australia in August 1917. After nearly two months at sea, he arrived in Glasgow before shipping out to join his battalion in France.

The 7th Battalion was raised very early in the war and a battle-hardened force. They fought at Gallipoli and in many battles on the Western Front. Alfred joined just in time to take part in The Third Battle of Ypres and then the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.

They were withdrawn from the line in December 1917 for rest. In March 1918, the battalion was called back into battle against the German spring offensive.

It was on April 14, 1918 that Alfred suffered a severe gunshot wound to the leg and was evacuated to an England hospital.

After four months recuperating in England, Alfred re-joined his unit in August. Thankfully, soon after he arrived back, the 7th Battalion was again withdrawn from battle to rest and was not asked to go back to fight before the Armistice was signed in November 1918.

Private Alfred Monger had quite a wait before returning to Australia. It was not until May 1919 that he boarded a ship to bring him home to Longwarry.

Photograph courtesy of the Australian War Memorial Collection and information courtesy of Longwarry and District History Group.

The history group focuses on the history of the 3816 postcode, including Longwarry, Labertouche and Modella, and is always seeking new members and sponsorship.