A complicated man

Walter Burdekin Aldridge (1882-1968) married Margaret Shonhan and had one child. He was known as Bert or Burt and had a poor reputation for the way in which he treated women.

Family information suggests that Burt had relationships apart from his marriage to Margaret Shonhan.

In 1908, there is a Johannah Aldridge seemingly in the same household as Burt in Liontown, Charters Towers. There is no recorded marriage for Burt other than the one with Margaret, so it is assumed his other relationships were common-law arrangements which are, of course, common these days but not 100 years past.

Burt is found with Margaret in 1930 and again in 1937, so it is assumed they separated before 1943. In 1927, Margaret took over as licensee of the Royal Hotel, Bouldercombe, near Rockhampton; the previous licensee was her father-in-law Henry Aldridge. By 1954, Burt is back at Kabra, near Rockhampton, with a Lily Aldridge in the same household.

1. Doris May ALDRIDGE,   b. 26 Apr 1909, Queensland, Australia ,   d. 20 Nov 1987, Queensland, Australia   (Age 78 years)