Dixon, Frederick

4182 Private Frederick Dixon - 51st Battalion AIF

Frederick Dixon was born in Beaconsfield Fremantle in 1896 to William and Jessie Dixon (nee Vagg). He was one of several siblings, with, George (1882), John (1884), Jessie (1886), Blanche (1889), Minnie (1891), William (1893), Elizabeth (1899) and Frank (1902).

He grew up and was educated in Fremantle during which time he also served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. During this time the family were living at 239 Hampton Road South Fremantle. (later renumbered 131 Hampton Rd).

After leaving school Fred took up employment locally as a labourer.

On the 18th September 1915 Frederick enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording Fred's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 138lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Dark.

Upon his successful enlistment, Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was sent into the training depot. He then spent several weeks being trained in the basics of infantry work. On the 9th November 1915, Fred was assigned to the 13th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next few months.

On the 17th January 1916, Fred and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Borda. The ship then set sail for Egypt and after arriving in February 1916, the men were disembarked and sent into the 3rd Training Battalion. On the 17th March 1916 Fred was then transferred to the 3rd Training Battalion.

The 11th Battalion were due to depart Egypt on the 29th March 1916 but the day before departure, Fred fell ill and was diagnosed with venereal disease. He would therefore spend the next two months in hospital in Egypt recovering from this illness.

Once he had recovered he was transferred into the 51st Battalion AIF. This unit left Egypt on the 7th June 1916 bound for France, reaching Marseilles on the 14th June 1916. After being disembarked the men were sent north to the Armentieres region.

They had a few weeks in the line near Estaires before being sent to the Somme battlefield. The 51st Battalion went into the line at Pozieres around the 12th August 1916. Not long after arriving Fred was struck by shrapnel in his leg. He was treated at the field ambulance and was then sent on to the 1st Canadian General Hospital for further treatment. Fortunately the wound was not severe and he rejoined the 51st Battalion on the 12th September 1916.

Fred returned to a much depleted unit as since he was evacuated, the 51st Battalion had fought two actions at Mouquet farm with severe casualties. He would have been a welcome addition to his unit.

The 51st Battalion then spent around six week in Belgium, before returning to the Somme battlefield in November 1916. They would spend the 1916/17 French winter on this muddy freezing battlefield.  Fred came through this period unscathed.

In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australians and British units press their withdrawal all the way and several sharp actions were fought. The 51st Battalion helped capture the village of Noreuil on the 2nd April 1917.

Two days after this action Fred was hospitalised with scabies. He was sent to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen where he soon recovered but then spent two more weeks at a convalescent camp. On the 29th April 1917 Fred was then sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He then rejoined the 51st Battalion on the 6th may 1917.

In June the 51st Battalion were sent to Messines in Belgium where they were in action around the Oostaverne line. Fred came through the Messines offensive unscathed but in July 1917 fell ill again with a recurrence of venereal disease. He was sent to England where he was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital.

He remained in this hospital till October 1917. After being released from hospital Fred was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He had a few weeks there and was then transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He had a few weeks here and then returned to France on the 23rd November 1917. After a week in the base depot, Fred rejoined the 51st battalion on the 29th November 1917.

The 4th Australian Division units were based near Peronne in December 1917 but in January 1918 returned to Belgium. From January to March 1918 they held the front line south east of Ypres near Hollebeke. On the 5th March 1918  Fred was evacuated to hospital with an abscess on his hand but returned ten days later.

On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring offensive which broke through the British line further south. As a result the Australian Divisions were sent south to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 51st battalion were sent to the Albert and Dernancourt sector and soon came into contact with the Germans. Several actions were fought from late March to April 5th 1918 around Dernancourt but the German advance had been stopped.

The 51st Battalion remained in this sector for a few more weeks and were then sent into reserve positions. 

On April 24th 1918 the Germans launched their large attack which capture Villers-Bretonneux. The 51st Battalion was one of the Australian units tasked with the recapture of this town. The town was successfully recaptured by the Australians and British troops but during the 51st Battalion action Fred had been hit in the back and chest by shrapnel. He was initially treated at the 25th Field Ambulance and then the 5th Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent by ambulance train to Rouen where he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital. Fred only had a few days being treated here and he was then sent to England.

On arrival Fred was sent to the Reading War Hospital. He was here for a month receiving treatment and then on the 29th May 1918 was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.

He was then sent to No.3 Command Depot Camp for a month and on the 29th June was transferred to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. On the 11th July 1918 Fred was then transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.

Fred returned to France on the 8th August 1918 and then rejoined the 51st Battalion on the 17th August 1918. Fred served with his unit in the line for the next month. On the 18th September 1918 the 51st Battalion fought their last action of the war and were then withdrawn from the front for a well deserved rest.

They were just about to return to the front line when the Armistice was announced on 11th November 1918. Once the Germans had withdrawn to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France.

Fred remained with his unit until the 29th January 1919. He was then sent to the Base Depot Camp at Le Havre, and on the 10th February 1919 left for England. On arrival in the UK, Fred was sent to the AIF camp at Weymouth to await to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.

On the 13th April 1919 Fred boarded the troopship Commonwealth and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 4th June 1919. After being disembarked Fred was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical checkup. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 27th July 1919.

He then returned home to Hampton Road Beaconsfield and resumed working as a butcher.

In 1927 in Fremantle Fred married Edith Elizabeth Wilson and they continued living in Hampton Road. A daughter, Merle, was born in 1928 and a son Alan in 1930.

In 1931 the family moved to 15 Lefroy Road South Fremantle and in the 1940's moved to 27 Lefroy Road.

 Frederick Dixon died aged 68 on the 1st July 1964. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.