Aberle, Frederick John

Lieutenant Frederick John Aberle - 16th Battalion AIF

Frederick John Aberle was born in Adelaide South Australia in 1888 to William and Annie Aberle. After he was born the family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Fremantle.

After leaving school Fred took to bookwork and soon qualified as an accountant. During this time he also served in the 11th Australian Infantry Regiment

In 1915 he married Margaret Campbell in Collie WA. They had a daughter called Dora born in 1916 and they went to live in Wellington Street in West Perth.

On the 14th February 1916 Frederick enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording Fred's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 10 inches tall;

Weight - 158lbs;

Chest Measurement - 47-42 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp but was then assigned to No.56 Depot Training School and was given the rank of Sergeant. On the 4th April 1916 Fred was then assigned to the 18th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.  However he was soon pulled out of this group and was instead sent to Officers Training School.

This training took several months and in January 1917 Fred had graduated and held the rank of Second Lieutenant. On the 30th January 1917 he was posted to the 25th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion.

He helped train this group over the next few months in WA. On the 29th June 1917 he led his men aboard the transport ship HMAT Borda in Fremantle Harbour. The ship then set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 25th August 1917.

After their arrival Fred and his group went to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford Camp. He spent some more time on the next few months on Officers training courses and in November 1917 was sent to the 13th Training Battalion.

During this time he met up with three friends he went through Officers training school with;

(Photo below - Rear - Lt Allan Muir - 16th Bn, Lt Les Charlton -51st Bn; Front - Lt Fred Aberle - 16th Bn & Lt Reg Wood - 51st Bn)

Fred finally received his embarkation orders for France and on the 7th January 1918 he arrived at Southampton and went aboard a troopship which took him across the Channel to France.

On the 18th January 1918 Fred was taken on strength of the 16th Battalion AIF. The 16th Battalion had spent Christmas around Peronne but were soon on the move to join the other Australian units in Belgium. In February and March 1918 the 16th Battalion helped to hold the line between Messines and Ypres.

On the 23rd March 1918 Fred was sent for a period of instruction to the 4th Army Musketry School, returning to the 16th Battalion on the 20th April 1918. He joined the 16th Battalion in the front line area near Hamel and Villers-Bretonneux.

On the 1st May 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant and the 16th Battalion had a busy month in the line.

On the 28th May 1918 Fred reported sick to the 4th Field Ambulance and was diagnosed with Otitis Media. This is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. He was sent for treatment to No.1 USA General Hospital at Etaples and after a few days was sent for further treatment in England. He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital. On the 25th July 1918 he was sent to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny Camp and he appears to have spent a few weeks here and then in October 1918 was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Hurdcott.

Fred went back to France and rejoined the 16th Battalion on the 25th October 1918. He was with the unit when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. He must have enjoyed the celebrations as a week later he was sent to hospital with VD. Fred subsequently spent the next several weeks in hospital.

Fred rejoined the 16th Battalion on the 3rd January 1919. He remained in Belgium until the 15th April 1919 and then returned to England.

On the 1st June 1919 Fred boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 18th July 1919.

Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 9th August 1919.

In his absence Margaret had moved with Dora from West Perth to 18 Townsend Road Subiaco. 

In 1921 a son John Roughton Aberle was born followed in 1924 by Phillip James Aberle.

Fred joined the RSL and was at one point on the Executive Committee. Fred also stood for the seat of Canning in the Federal Election representing the Nationals Party.

In World War Two his son John died, while a member of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion in the battle for Singapore.

Frederick Aberle died on the 3rd June 1971 in Perth WA.