Copeland, Frederick Montague

2247 Private Frederick Montague Copeland - 2nd Squadron Australian Flying Corps & 16th Battalion AIF

Frederick Montague Copeland was born in Fremantle WA in 1897 to John and Helen Copeland. He was one of nine siblings, with, Constance 1877, John 1879, Louisa 1881, Racheal 1883, Henry 1886 (died the same year), Henry 1887, Sidney 1889, Bonte 1894 and Julia 1900.

In 1903 the family were living in Raleigh Avenue North Fremantle.

In 1906 the family then moved to North Perth where Frederick completed his education. After leaving school he took up an apprenticeship as a printer/compositor. 

Sadly his Father John died in Perth on the 20th April 1909; leaving the family to be brought up by his mother.

The family were living at Tenth Avenue Maylands prior to the Great War and Fred had found work as a Compositor. During the years prior to the Great War Fred had served with the 88th Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces and then continued with the 88th Infantry regiment.

On the 6th February 1917 Fred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Fred's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 inches tall;

Weight - 126lbs;

Chest Measurement - 29-34 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially assigned to the 25th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF. He trained with them until the 21st March 1917 and then he was transferred to the Trench Mortar Reinforcements. As the Artillery and trench mortar reinforcements were trained in Victoria, Fred was shipped east and resumed training at Maribyrnong Camp.

On the 11th May 1917 Fred departed from Port Melbourne aboard the transport ship HMAT Shropshire as part of the 37th Reinforcements to the Trench Mortar Batteries and sailed for England. During the voyage Fred got intro trouble for spitting on deck, using obscene language and also disobeying an order from a NCO.

No doubt Fred was glad when the ship arrived at Plymouth England on the 19th July 1917. He was initially sent to the trench mortar depot camp at Parkhouse but he was now re-assigned units. He was transferred to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington in September 1917 as it was planned he would be joining the 11th Battalion.

However on the 4th October 1917 Fred was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps Details at Tara Haill and was then attached to the 33rd Training Squadron.

On the 8th January 1918 Fred was transferred with his training squadron to Cirencester in Gloucestershire. On the 1st March 1918 Fred was transferred to Leigherton in Gloucestershire where he was attached to the 8th Training Squadron. Fred was in the motor transport section and had to drive trucks as well as motor bikes. He was used to deliver dispatches on a motor bike.

On the 25th March 1918 Fred was then attached to the 7th Training Squadron. Fred only had a few more weeks in England and on the 17th April 1918 was sent to France. On the 21st April 1918 he was assigned to the 2nd Squadron Australian Flying Corps. By now he held the rank of 2nd Air Mechanic.

Fred served with the 2nd Squadron in France for the next few months but on the 18th August 1918 was transferred to the 16th Battalion AIF. The 16th battalion was then advancing from the Villers-Bretonneux front against the Germans. Their advance was successful and on the 18th September 1918 they fought their last action of the war at Le Verguier. 

Fred was injured during the action, he had been caught in some barbed wire then fell in a shell hole, injuring his knee, and after treatment at the 4th Field Ambulance, was sent to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville. He remained here till the 23rd September 1918 when he was shipped to England. Fred was then admitted to a Military Hospital in Herne Bay England.

He spent a month there and on the 22nd October 1918 was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Fred had three days there and on the 25th October 1918 was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. He was still here when the Armistice was announced.

On the 2nd December 1918 Fred was transferred to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.

On the 21st December 1918 Fred was sent aboard the troopship Mamari for the journey back to Australia. He arrived back in Fremantle on the 27th January 1919.

Fred was then medically assessed at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 1st March 1919.

After being released from the base hospital in South Terrace Fremantle, he returned to the family home in Maylands.

Fred did not remain long in WA as he moved to NSW.

In 1925 he married Gertrude Viola Bertles in Newcastle NSW. By 1933 they were living in Mosman NSW and he was still working as a mechanic.

They had moved to Lismore in 1939.

Fred's mother died in Perth on the 8th May 1942.

By 1968 Fred was living at Narrabeen NSW and they then moved north to Queensland.

In 1974 wife Gertrude died in Queensland, though Fred continued residing in this state, in 1977 living at Nerang Queensland.

Frederick Copeland died in 1986 in Queensland.