Foley, Frederick Charles

No.4117 – Sergeant Frederick Charles Foley – 28^th Battalion AIF

Frederick was the younger brother of James, having been born in 1896. He was also educated at Christian Brothers College Fremantle and after leaving school he took up employment with the WA Government Railways as an engine cleaner. During his school and work years, Fred was a member of the Naval Reserve.

On the 24^th December 1915 Fred 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 Fred’s physical attributes as height of 5 feet 7 & ½ inches; weight of 127lbs; chest measurement of 34-37 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Fred was initially sent to No.41 Training Depot at Blackboy Hill Camp and on the 1^st February 1916 he was sent into the 10^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion. He had two months training with this group in WA while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. These finally came through and on the 1^st April 1916 Fred and his group boarded the HMAT Ulysses in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt.

By the time Fred reached Egypt, the 28^th Battalion had already left for France, but the 2^nd Division reinforcements who hadn’t been transferred to other divisions were soon sent on to France. Fred left Egypt on the 29^th May 1916 and after arriving in France he was sent to the newly established 2^nd Australian Division Depot in Etaples.

Fred was sent to hospital on the 26^th June suffering from tonsillitis and this delayed his transfer to the 28^th Battalion. Fred therefore missed the 28^th’s first action at Pozieres on the 29^th July but that may have been a blessing as the 28^th suffered severe casualties. On the 2^nd August Fred was taken on strength of the 28^th and two days later he was with the unit when they captured the windmill position at Pozieres.

Fred saw further action at Mouquet farm before the Battalion was sent to Belgium. In October 1916 the Australians returned to the Somme and in November the 28^th Battalion were involved in two harsh actions in the muddy battlefield near Flers. He survived the first unscathed but in the 2^nd action on 16^th November Fred was wounded. He was away from his unit for two months, returning in mid January 1917.

Fred was action at Lagnicourt in March 1917 and on the 12^th April he was detached for duty to the 26^th Battalion. This detachment lasted three weeks and he was initially at the 2^nd Bullecourt battle with the 26^th Battalion but then returned to the 28^th.

After the Bullecourt stunt the 28^th was withdrawn for a well deserved rest period out of the line. Fred was sick for a period in August and this was soon diagnosed as VD and he was subsequently out of action until the 24^th November 1917. He then returned to the 28^th Battalion but on the 7^th January 1918 due to his railway background he transferred into the 5ht Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company. He saw out the war with this unit and returned to Australia on the 21^st June 1919 aboard the Kongin Louise, disembarking in Fremantle on the 2^nd August 1919.

Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 25^th September 1919.