Joseph Aubrey

Rank:	Sergeant
Street:	General Post Office
Townland:
Town/Village:	Brisbane, Queensland
Civil Parish:
Catholic Parish:
Country:	Australia
Alternative Address:	Coolamber, Co. Longford
Census 1901:
Census 1911:
Regiment/Unit:	4th Infantry Brigade, 15th Infantry Battalion, Army Service Corps, AIF; [Royal Irish
Regiment Number:	1302
Date of Death:
Cause:	Unknown
Memorial:	Unknown
Information:	Joseph was according to army records born in County Longford in 1887; next-of-kin was his brother E. Aubrey, Coolamber, Co. Westmeath. Prior to enlisting with the 15th Infantry in December 1914, Joseph stated that he had served 4 years with the 18th Battalion of the Royal Irish. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in February 1915. Aubrey's story is interesting in that whilst serving overseas he went missing on 12 November 1915; his record was marked as an absentee, something that was highly unusual for someone of his rank. Aubrey's journey from Australia was marred by illness and he was hospitalised a number of times in 1915 for reasons including tonsillitis, rheumatic fever and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). His most recent hospitalisation was on 1 November that year, something which could have been a factor in his decision to leave the front. Consequently, he forfeit his medals, pension and free repatriation to Australia for the duration of the war. At present, it is not known what happened to Joseph Aubrey as no other public records have been found to date.
Parents Names:
Notes:	Some records indicate that Aubrey was a Company Sergeant Major, although there is no formal record of that promotion from Sergeant. Aubrey would appear to have been demoted back to Private, as evidenced by his inclusion in the Australian WW1 Roll of Honour under that rank. He faced the court of inquiry in 1918 and was formally discharged in 1920. Interestingly, he was not recorded as being 'deficient of kit', which meant that he left his uniform and equipment behind. Physically Aubrey was distinctive as his army record shows him as standing just over 6 feet in height, when most other men in the Commonwealth armies were a number of inches shorter.
Links:	Link to Australian Imperial Force record; possible portrait of Joseph Aubrey