Born at Copeland, NSW in 1885 to William and Margaret (nee Fitsimmons), Audrey was the fourth of their five children.
Until March 1918 when the machine gun Battalions were formed each division had 4 machine gun companies. Each company was equipped with 16 Vickers machine guns, giving a battalion a total of 64. The 1st Machine Gun Company (NSW) was formed in Egypt on the 12th of March 1916 and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Brigade. Over the duration of the war a total of 14 Reinforcements raised.
Working as a cordial maker, Aubrey enlisted at Randwick on the 27th of April 1916 to the 4th Reinforcements 1st Machine Gun Company as gunner. Between the 27th of April 1916 until the 15th of May 1916 Aubrey was on strength at MG Depot Victoria and between the 16th of May until the 16th of August 1916 he was at Parkhouse.
Boarding the RMS Orontes at Melbourne on the 16th of August 1016, he disembarked at Plymouth on the 2nd of October 1916. He then proceeded overseas to France from Folkston aboard the Princess Henrietta on the 19th of January 1917. On the 26th of January he proceeded from RFTS to join his unit at Camiers and taken on strength 1st Australian Machine Gun Coy.
The Battle of Polygon Wood commenced on the 26th of September 1917 during the second phase of the Third Battle of Ypres in the area from Menin Road to Polygon Wood and through to St. Julien. Much of the woodland had been destroyed by shell fire from both sides since the 16th of July.
During July, the 1st Division had suffered 5,285 casualties taking Pozieres and was replaced by the 2nd Division. With strength restored to two-thirds by mid-August, the Division returned to the Pozieres Ridge area to relieve the 4th Division who had been working their way towards Mouquet Farm. On the 22nd of August having lost another 2,650, the 1st Division was withdrawn from the Somme Valley and on the 5th of September they were sent to Ypres to rest. However, being recalled, the 1st joined the British 4th Army and were back to the sector south of Pozieres near Flers for the latter stages of the battle that became known as ‘The Battle of Polygon Wood’. On the 29th of September 1917, Aubrey was ‘Killed In Action’. His grave was not found.
Personal effects wallet, photos, diary, letters, unit colours and a wooden souvenir.
