A DUTY DONE
Alfred John Cordin - 54th Battalion

The oldest son of Alfred George and Fanny Sara Cordin, 19 year-old farmer Alfred John Cordin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Warwick Farm on the 17th of August 1915 . Having been born in Camden , he now lived with his father and his father's second wife Florence in Liverpool .

After spending time in camp, Alfred embarked for the front in February 1916, leaving from Sydney on board the Ballarat. Upon arriving in the Middle East he joined the 54th battalion and was promptly shipped to France .

On July 19, Cordin took part in the battle of Fromelles where he was seriously injured with a gunshot wound to the elbow. He was treated at the 1st Auxiliary Hospital but quickly transferred back to England onboard the Dieppe for further treatment.

Cordin spent several months in hospital before it was decided to send him home to Australia onboard the Karoola. He arrived back in early December 1916 and was discharged medically unfit in January of the following year.

Alfred John Cordin passed away in 1953 and is buried at Rookwood.

Research notes:

1) Alfred and Fanny had three children, Alfred (b 1896) Sydney (b 1898) and May (b 1900).

2) Alfred's mother, Fanny Sara Cordin (nee Buck) passed away in 1912. His father was married a second time in 1914 to Florence May Elenor Smith, she passed in 1951.

3) Alfred John Cordin (who was known as Jack) married Frances Lawler (aka Kit) in 1917. They had eight children; Sydney (aka Toby), Francis (aka Bill), Kit, Peg, Pat, Bet, Ronald and Tony.

Photos:

1) Alfred Cordin's grave at Rookwood cemetery.

2) Plaque on Alfred Cordin's grave at Rookwood cemetery..