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ALDERMAN Lancelot "Bob"

Lancelot Robert Hedges Alderman known as ‘Bob’ was born at Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire in England in 1890.
He arrived in Australia on 11 December 1913 aged 23.
Bob’s parents had wanted him to be a teacher, but he had his heart set on a more physical occupation, and boarded a ship bound for Western Australia giving ‘Farm Hand’ as his occupation.
Bob was single, and aged 25 when he enlisted in December 1915. He was assigned to the 51st Battalion, 4th Refs, B Company.
After a period of training Bob departed from Fremantle aboard the Miltiades on 9 August 1916. He was listed as a Sergeant upon enrolment, but reverted to Private on marching in to England. Bob’s closest mates were Bert Beer and Richard ‘Dick’ Hardwick.
Bert had been teaching near Merredin before he joined up, and was a Sapper in the A Corp Signals Squad and Dick Hardwick was a Corporal in the 51st Battalion.

LANCELOT "Bob" ALDERMAN AGED 22 YEARS OLD  1912                    #!
 


LANCELOT "Bob" ALDERMAN                    #2

According to military records Bob was wounded at Villers Bretonneux on April 24, 1918. Bob later said it was on April 25 (the second anniversary of the ANZAC landing), so it is likely there was an error on entering the date.
Following his return from war he participated in the A.I.F. Corps School and began his teaching career.
Bob married Catherine Ellen Cahill in 1925, and they had three children – William ‘Bill’ Hedges, Mary Patricia and Francis Kevin ‘Frank’.


 

     BOB & CATHERINE ALDERMAN ON THEIR WEDDING DAY  1925              #3
 


        BOB & CATHERINE ALDERMAN WITH DAUGHTER MARY           #4
 


 

     BOB & CATHERINE ALDERMAN WITH SON BILL & DAUGHTER MARY              #5
 


          FRANK, BILL & MARY ALDERMAN         #6
 


      FRANK, MARY & BILL ALDERMAN             #7

Bob’s grandson, the well known former Australian cricketer Terry Alderman had arranged a visit to the Somme shortly after I first contacted him in June 2009.
Sergeant Alderman was a trained teacher, and was Headmaster at Gnowangerup from January 1934 until December 1937. Coincidentally, Dick Hardwick had taught at Gnowangerup in 1922.
In those days the town was a bustling place, lots of 'larger than life' people with many social activities and high hopes for the future.
During his time at Gnowangerup Bob organised the printing of the first school paper. He was given recognition for being a prime mover in organising the enormously successful Inter School Athletics. Bob enjoyed involvement in community activities, and was President of the Sub-Branch of the RSL from 1934 until 1936. He was very concerned that the memories of the fallen soldiers be treated with absolute respect.
Bob was also the main force and one of five people responsible for the issuing of “The Echo”, a monthly publication by and for returned soldiers in the Gnowangerup District.
He was known as the ‘Adjutant’ and wrote the column for the cover page. Bob’s sense of humour shines through - when writing up the golf match which was lost against Borden: “We would have published the scores but Sam Stewart conveniently lost them”

       MARY ALDERMAN             #8
 

Bob worked closely with others on the committee: Arthur Hornsey the ‘Orderly Room Sergeant’; Stan Dolley ‘The Quarter Bloke’; Henry Lower the ‘Reconnaissance Officer’ and Edric 'Ric' Chambers the ‘Orderly Corporal’. Bob wrote many interesting pieces, including one on Major “Mick” Mannock – Britain’s ‘Red Baron’. (THE ECHO July, 1938)
He was responsible for putting together the entry for the Newdegate Cup in 1936 which was subsequently won by Gnowangerup – a very difficult feat given the competition for this state award.
There were usually around 80 returned soldiers at the reunions at this stage, including eleven other 51st Battalion members, and three fellow 4th Refs members - Vin McDonald, John (‘Jack’) Evans and Edward (‘Tom’) Hill. When Bob was transferred to Coolgardie in December 1937 he wrote: “good bye-e-e and good luck...thanks to all those who helped the Press Committee...not forgetting the printer Mr. A. Walker to whom he “dips his lid”

 

         LETTER FROM GNOWANGERUP ROAD BOARD          #9

 

         CATHERINE & BOB ALDERMAN          #10
 

           CATHERINE & BOB ALDERMAN  WEDDING ANNIVERSARY     #11
 

Bob took an active interest in sports, and his love of cricket was passed along to his descendents. Bob died in the suburb of Hollywood, Perth, on 4 August 1979, aged 88 years.
 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:    The Alderman family
                                               THE ECHO
                                                Australian War Memorial Records
                                                Western Australian Soldier Teachers
                                                Dr Neville Green 2009.

 

                                  Image:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11          The Alderman family

 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024