Curwen, Frederick Edward

No.254 Private Frederick Edward Curwen – 28^th Battalion AIF

Frederick Edward Curwen was born on the 11^th December 1890 in Toorak, Victoria to Alexander & Elizabeth Curwen. Unfortunately his mother died approx 1897 but Fred went on to be educated at Toorak College and later became a Clerk. He then travelled with his father to Western Australia and took up work in Fremantle for Dalgety and Co, his father living in Pakenham St Fremantle.

On the 5^th March 1915 Fred went to the Perth Recruitment office and offered his services to the AIF. He was passed as fit with the Medical Officer finding him to be 5 feet 5 inches tall; weight of 123 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; medium complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Initially allotted to No.10 Depot Camp, Fred was then assigned to “D” Company of the 24^th Battalion, however when it was decided another whole battalion could be formed in WA, the 24^th was made purely Victorian and the 28^th Battalion was to be formed in WA. Fred was assigned to “B” Company of the 28^th Battalion.

This battalion trained in WA until the end of June 1915. On the 29^th June 1915 the 28^th Battalion embarked from Fremantle WA aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” and made their way to Egypt. Upon arrival in Egypt the 28^th Battalion spent August training in the desert and in early September made their way to Alexandria and were embarked for Gallipoli. The 28^th Battalion were given an area known as the Apex.

On the 21^st September 1915 Fred was severely wounded in the arm, chest and leg by shrapnel and he died the same day at the 7^th Field Ambulance.

He was buried by a Reverend W Brennan though the locality of the burial was not properly recorded. After the war Fred was given a special memorial grave (plot A.6) in Lone Pine Cemetery as it was thought he was buried in this area. When Fred died the 28^th Battalion were holding the line a great deal north of Lone Pine though their war diary records that parties of officers and men went to Lone Pine to look at the trenches, so perhaps Fred was killed during this time though unfortunately the records aren’t clear about this.

One of Fred’s brothers who remained in Victoria, Pte John Curwen was killed on October 4^th 1917 with the 7^th Battalion and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.