Craig, Frederick Colin
15958 Sapper Frederick Colin Craig - 4th Division Signal Company
Frederick Colin Craig was born in Fremantle on the 23rd February 1898 to James and Amelia Craig. He had six siblings, Amelia (1892), Sarah (1893), John (1895), Bessie (1896), Essie (1900) and James (1902).
The family initially lived at 88 (64) Mandurah Road in South Fremantle but prior to the Great War moved to 117 King Street East Fremantle. (later renumbered 59 King Street)
Frederick was educated locally and after leaving school took up clerical work. Frederick had also been serving in the 86A Cadets of the Citizen Military Forces.
On the 29th May 1916, 18 year old Fred enlisted into the AIF. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;
Wright - 149lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-35 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.74 Training Depot. He had two weeks here learning basic infantry training and he was then assigned to the Signal School.
Fred had the next few months going through the signal courses and on the 1st September 1916 was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 4th Division Signal Company. He had another two months of training in WA with this group.
On the 9th November 1916 Fred and his group went to Fremantle Harbour and boarded the HMAT Argyllshire. The ship then set sail for England and after the long sea voyage disembarked at Devonport England on the 10th January 1917.
After their arrival Fred and his group were marched into Perham Downs Camp and a few days later went into the Engineer Training Depot.
Fred would remain in England for the next few months undergoing training.
On the 20th May 1917 Fred was put in a draft of men for France. He left Folkestone Harbour and proceeded across the Channel. He was then sent to the Royal Engineer Training Depot at Abbeville.
On the 15th June 1917, Fred was taken on strength of the 4th Division Signal Company. When he joined them, the 4th Division Signal Company were then in the vicinity of Messines in Belgium. They would remain in this sector till August 1917.
In September and October 1917 the 4th Division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres. Fred would have been under heavy fire for much of this time while he maintained communications between the front line positions and headquarters.
In March 1918 he was granted a period of furlough in England during which time he was hospitalised ill. Fortunately he soon recovered and Fred returned to his unit in France on April 8th 1918.
Fred saw out the remainder of 1918 with his unit. A week after the Armistice he was injured at work and suffered a fractured clavicle. After initial treatment in France Fred was evacuated to England. He was initially sent to Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton. On the 16th December 1918 Fred was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.
A day before Christmas, Fred was released from hospital and sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.
On the 7th February 1919 Fred board the transport ship Lancashire and set sail home for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 21st March 1919.
Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 1st May 1919.
After being given a medical examination at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle, Fred returned home to 117 King Street East Fremantle.
In 1924 in East Fremantle Fred married Mary Martha Grace Jarvis. Later that year, a son Colin Mervyn Leslie Craig was born.
The family would live at 49 Silas Street East Fremantle (Later renumbered to 31 Silas) and Frederick worked as a waterside worker at Fremantle Harbour.
His son Colin Craig (W93106) would serve in World War Two, and would survive the conflict.
Frederick Colin Craig died in East Fremantle on 20th May 1993 aged 94.