Allen, Frederick Hamilton

1154 Trooper Frederick Hamilton Allen - 10th Light Horse Regiment

Frederick Hamilton Allen was born in South Fremantle in 1893 to William and Mary Allen. He was educated locally and after leaving school he took up work as a Fitter’s labourer. His father William died in the early 1900’s and in 1908 his mother married Charles Atwell with the family living at Stockdale Farm Coogee South Fremantle. Fred later moved to McLeery Street Beaconsfield. On the 16^th June 1915 Frederick went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height:                                     5 feet 5 & ¾ inches;

Weight:                                    149lbs;

Chest Measurement:               35-37 inches;

Complexion:                            Fresh;

Eyes:                                       Blue

Hair:                                        Fair;

Religious Denomination:         Roman Catholic

Distinctive Marks:                    Burns on right forearm

Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and as he wanted to join the Light Horse he was put through siding tests which he successfully passed. He was therefore assigned to the 8^th Reinforcements to the 10^th Light Horse Regiment. He trained with this group in WA through July and August and they finally received their departure orders. On the 2^nd September 1915 Fred and his group boarded the HMAT Anchises in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt, arriving there at the end of the month.

After being disembarked Fred was sent into the Light Horse reinforcement camp. On the 21^st October he was admitted sick to the 1^st Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis, where he remained for the next month. He was released from hospital on the 23^rd November 1915 but he was not sent to Gallipoli as by this date the decision had been made to evacuate the Dardanelles. Fred therefore remained in Egypt and he was attached for duty with the 3^rd Light Horse Field Ambulance. However on the 17^th January 1916 he was taken on strength of the 10^th Light Horse Regiment. On the 27^th February 1916 Fred was appointed to the rank of Driver and was assigned duty with the Light Horse Details Camp. He was based in Egypt for the next several months, only rejoining the 10^th Light Horse Regiment on the 9^th September 1916.

Fred had just missed the action at Romani when the Australian light Horse units battled against a large Turkish force and after several days forced the Turks into retreat. The Turkish forces were followed up and Fred saw action with the 10^th Light Horse Regiment at the Battle of Magdhaba in December 1916 and Rafa in January 1917. He came through both actions unscathed. In March 1917 Fred was sent to an Imperial school of instruction and he subsequently qualified as a Hotchkiss Machine Gunner.

He soon returned to the Regiment and served with the 10^th Light Horse Regiment at the Battle of Gaza on the 19^th April 1917. Despite capturing Gaza, the Australian and British troops were ordered to withdraw, thus leaving Gaza open to the Turks to re-occupy. It was a bad command mistake and Gaza would not be taken now till much later in the year. During the assault on Gaza Fred had been shot in the head by the Turks. Fortunately it was not fatal though he was rushed to the 3^rd Light Horse Field Ambulance where initial medical treatment was given.

Fred was then evacuated by the 6^th Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance and taken to the 53^rd Casualty Clearing Station. Further medical aid was given here and then Fred was sent to the 34^th Stationary Hospital. On the 22^nd April Fred was transferred to the 26^th Stationary Hospital and two days later on the 24^th April he was again transferred to the 14^th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia. He remained here for the next few weeks and as there was no chance of Fred being sent back to his unit due to the severity of his wound, he was marked for a return to Australia.

On the 21^st May 1917 Fred was put aboard the HT Oxfordshire and the ship sailed for South Africa, where Fred was disembarked in Cape Town on the 16^th June. He was transferred into Maitland Hospital to await transport to Australia. Fred remained in South Africa for the next two months and on the 26^th August 1917 he boarded the HT Nestor and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 13^th September 1917.

Fred was then sent to No.8 AGH in South Terrace for further medical treatment and after being released from hospital he returned to live at 46 Alexander Road. Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 29^th October 1917.

Fred lived in Fremantle for most of his life in Howard Street and died on the 28^th April 1959 aged 61. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery in plot Methodist MON BB 0062.