Albert’s occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a blacksmith, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 23 May 1891, London, England.1National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Axelby Albert Richard, Item ID – 3042106. Accessed 15 May 2024.
- Parents – Father, Mr Axelby, Wattisfield Road, Clapton, London, England
- Enlisted – 21 September 1914, Sydney, New South Wales. Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A39 Port Macquarie on 21 December 1914.2University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=9670. Accessed 15 May 2024.
- Regimental Number – 1170
- Aged at embarkation – 233Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1786255. Accessed 15 May 2024.
- Military service – Infantry Brigade Train 4, Rank – Driver4Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/183914 15 May 2024. Albert served on the Western Front and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
- Returned to Australia on 23 October 1918.5Moruya and District Historical Society. https://blog.mdhs.org.au/heroes-of-the-eurobodalla/#M. Accessed 15 May 2024.
- Died – 10 May 1973, aged 82.6NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Death 2609/1973, Sydney, Parents Richard and Ada Alexander. Accessed 15 May 2024.
- Buried – Woden Cemetery, ACT7Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49761910/albert-richard-axelby. Accessed 15 May 2024.
In February 1919, the Braidwood Dispatch8Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 7 February 1919, p 2. reported ‘On Monday night last one of the biggest crowds that ever attended a social gathering in the Valley flocked to the Federal Hall to do honor to an Araluen soldier in the person of Private A. Axleby [Axelby] who, after four years of fighting (which included Egypt, Gallipoli and France), returned to the Valley last week. On behalf of the residents of Araluen, Major Alley presented Private Axleby [Axelby] with a “roll of notes,” with which to purchase a memento to remind him of the esteem in which he was held by the people of the Valley. In a brief reply Private Axleby [Axelby] said he had done his best and that luck was with him all through, which meant everything.’
Albert married Elsie Bridget Wallace (1895-1960) in November 1914, prior to his embarkation in December 1914, and they had six children – Steve; Keith; Joan (Mrs. McIntyre); June (Mrs. Yandell); Gordon and Colin. Elsie was the daughter of William Wallace (1859-1938) and Elizabeth Roberts (1859-1927) and was born in Araluen.
Albert also served in WWII (Service Number N278080)9National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B884, Axelby, Item ID – 6191206. Accessed 20 May 2024. enlisting on 13 October 1941, a forestry worker, who was married, and noting he was born in North London, England on 23 May 1891.10Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/1716636. Accessed 20 May 2024. Albert was discharged on 6 September 1944, at the rank of Corporal.
A death notice was published in the Canberra Times11Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1995), Saturday 12 May 1973, p 19. on 12 May 1973 stating ‘AXELBY, Albert Richard. — On May 10 [1973] at Sydney, late of 71 Novar Street, Yarralumla, widower of the late Elsie Bridget Axelby, loved father and father-in-law of Steve and Una, Keith and Tessie, Joan ([Mrs McIntyre ] 12Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1995), Monday 4 April 1960, p 10. dec), June and Stan Yandell, Colin and Margaret and grandfather of their children. Aged 84 years.’