Alex survived the war and was on his way back home to his wife and young children. Alex’s ship docked on 30th April 1919. He would be so excited to see them after years away at war. But Florence had caught the Black Flu. This was an epidemic in Melbourne at the time with hundreds dying. Her address was 1 Victoria Grove, East Brunswick. Florence died at Alfred Hospital on 1st May 1919 of pneumonic influenza (the Black Flu Plague). She was buried at New Melbourne Cemetery (now called Fawkner Memorial Park on 2nd May 1919). Her three little children Ruth, Nellie and Ethel were left without a mother. Ethel the youngest was only 5 years old. The family were split up - Ruth and Nellie were not Alex's children. They went to live elsewhere, probably with Florences relatives. Ethel stayed with her father.
