Robert Thomas Alderman

Story:
Robert Thomas Alderman was born in Stanton St. Bernard, Near Devizes, Wiltshire, on 30 Mar 1891 and baptised there on 22 Jun 1891 the son of Thomas Alderman, a Carrier, and Eliza Gray Alderman (nee Morrell).  He spent his early life in Stanton St. Bernard until by 1909 he emigrated to Canada and settled down in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.   He enlisted on 20 Jan 1915 with the 50th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a Private (Service No. 434342).  (This number was changed in the records from time to time but was finally given as 34342.)  He transferred to the 10th Battalion and was sent to France in Oct 1915.  He was wounded in the thigh at Ypres, Belgium, in Jun 1916 and was sent for treatment in the UK.  On his return to duty he was engaged in an action at Passchendaele, Belgium, where he received gunshot wounds to his right leg on 17 Nov 1917.  He was again repatriated to the UK and went from hospital to hospital over a number of months as well as convalescence leave.  During this time he was given permission to marry and on 29 Jun 1918 married Florence Annie Chamberlain in Iwerne Minster, Dorset.  (His parents had moved to Iwerne Minster prior to 1911).  He was eventually discharged from the army on 18 Feb 1919 as being medically unfit for further duty and qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  He and his wife then returned to Canada and the 1921 Census  shows them living at 215 18th Street West, Calgary, Alberta, and Robert is working as Carpenter for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.  He died on 15 Oct 1969 and was buried in the Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary.  His gravestone gives his military details despite his early discharge in 1919.  His name also appears on a privately produced Roll of Honour for those who served from Iwerne Minster, Dorset.