Fitzpatrick, Everett Joseph

6978 Private Everett Joseph Fitzpatrick - 28th Battalion AIF

Everett Joseph Fitzpatrick was born in Perth on the 15th September 1894 to Joseph and Catherine Fitzpatrick.

He was one of five siblings, with, Matthew 1889, Joseph 1892, Kathleen 1898 and Stella 1901.

The family lived in Cottesloe and Bruce Street North Fremantle. Everett was educated at CBC Fremantle and had also seen service with the 86A Cadets and also the 86th Infantry Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces. Everett was also working as a trucker between Kalgoorlie and the metropolitan area.

On the 18th July 1916 Everett enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

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

Weight - 130lbs;

Chest Measurement - 32-36 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown;

Distinctive Marks - scars all over shoulders and back.

Upon his successful enlistment, Everett was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.78 Training Depot. He was taken through some basic infantry work while in this camp. Everett had some time in hospital in August and September 1916 ill but after being released he was assigned to the 17th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.

He trained with this group in WA from the 21st September 1916 to the 8th November 1916. The following day the men were entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire. The ship then set sail for England, arriving at Devonport Harbour on the 10th January 1917.

After being disembarked the men were sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Everett remained in England training till the 20th April 1917. He was then sent to France where he was initially sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He spent several days here and was then taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 2nd May 1917.

He joined the 28th Battalion just prior to their going into action at the second Battle of Bullecourt on the 3rd May 1917. The 28th Battalion fought a fierce action against the Germans at Bullecourt. Everett survived this action and after the battle the 28th battalion was withdrawn for a three month rest period.

On the 28th may 1917 Everett fell ill and was evacuated to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen. He was diagnosed with trench fever and he spent a few days in hospital at Rouen before being shipped to England. On arrival he was admitted to University War Hospital in Southampton.

He would spend the next few months recovering from this severe illness. On the 25th September 1917 Everett was transferred to the Barton on the Sea Convalescent Hospital at New Milton. He spent the next month here and then on the 24th October 1917 was well enough to be given a two week furlough.

On reporting back on the 7th November 1917 he was sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Codford. On the 11th December 1917 he was then sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He remained here till the 31st December 1917 and was then sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.

Due to his health, Everett's fitness grading was lowered which meant that he could not yet be sent back to the Western Front. He was then attached to the Australian Army Medical Corps and was assigned work in the Camp Hospital. He remained working for the AAMC at Codford through 1918.

As he had spent some time in England he met a local girl and got married on the 26th October 1918 in Ilkeston Derbyshire England to Elizabeth Helena Igo.

Everett worked at Codford camp through to June 1919. He was then given his embarkation orders and on the 21st June 1919 boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 9th August 1919.

He was discharged from the AIF on the 12th September 1919.

Everett and Elizabeth would have the following children; Margaret in 1920, Everett in 1921, Helena in 1925; Maureen in 1926; Walter in 1930 who died shortly after birth and Walter 1932.

Everett took up farming at Kulin and was there through to the mid 1930's. However the family then moved to North Fremantle and took up residence at 18 De Lisle St North Fremantle. Everett now took up employment with the WA Government Railways. They lived in North Fremantle for a few years before moving to 29 Howard Street Fremantle.

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick died in North Fremantle on the 2nd November 1938 aged 40.

On the 19th March 1942 Everett enlisted into the Australian Army. He was accepted for service and given the service number W48266. He served with No.2 Fremantle Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps however it does not appear he served for long.

Everett died on the 24th February 1943 aged 48. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic Mon C3 0432.

His son Everett was captured in Timor in WW2 and went on to serve in Korea and died in action 26th October 1950. He is buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery.