Gramkie, Frederick James
425 Corporal Frederick James Gramkie - 28th Battalion AIF
Frederick was born on the 13th March 1877 in Port Adelaide South Australia to Charles and Elizabeth Gramkie and was one of six siblings, with, William 1875, Wilhelminia 1879, Adelaide 1881, Percival 1883 and Muriel 1885.
The family moved to WA in 1890's and took up residence at 59 Suffolk Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 1 Suffolk). Frederick worked as a Storman in Fremantle
On the 4th March 1915 Frederick enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment and the medical officer recorded Fred's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/4 inches tall;
Weight - 148lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially assigned to No.11 Depot Company. He had six weeks there being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 16th April 1915 Fred was then transferred to "C" Company of the newly forming 28th Battalion AIF. He was given the regimental number 425.
The 28th Battalion trained in WA until they embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” on the 29th June 1915. After their arrival in Egypt in July they were given further training and were soon told to prepare to head for Gallipoli.
On the 4th September 1915 the Battalion embarked from Egypt and made their way to the peninsula. After the 28th Battalion arrived at Anzac they were sent to part of the newly captured territory in the northern portion of the Anzac battlefield to hold the new trenches around positions such as the Apex and Rhododendron Ridge. The 28th Battalion were not involved in any major actions on Gallipoli but still had a steady stream of casualties from enemy fire and sickness. Fred remained with them until the Battalion was withdrawn from the peninsula in late December 1915.
The 28th Battalion firstly was taken to Mudros and then returned to Egypt on the 10th January 1916. On the 18th January Fred went absent without leave, only returning on the 28th January 1916. He escaped with a light punishment of only 72 hours of detention.
On the 16th March 1916 the 28th Battalion arrived at Alexandria Harbour and proceeded to board a troopship which took them to France, where they arrived at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916. They arrived near Armentieres and took up a position on the Western Front for the first time near Fleurbaix.
The 28th Battalion remained in this sector until June 1916 when they transferred for a short period to Messines. In early July the 28th Battalion were then transferred to the Somme battlefield. On July 23rd the 1st Australian Division had captured Pozieres village and they remained under heavy German shellfire until they were relieved by the 2nd Division a week later. The 28th Battalion came into the line and almost immediately were ordered to attack the German trench line known as OG1 as part of a general advance by the 2nd Division. The 28th Battalion had the hardest task as they were attacking along the highest elevation on the battlefield and were subject to heavy German machine gun fire. The survivors made it to the German line and found an unbroken stretch of thick barbed wire and as they were attempting to get through, many men were shot down.
Fred was one of the fortunate men to survive this assault unscathed though there was to be no rest for the 28th Battalion. The next attack being ordered for August 4th, and while the 28th Battalion; due to their heavily reduced numbers were kept in reserve, when the other battalions got into difficulty the 28th Battalion were again sent forward and amazingly they managed to capture the majority of the heavily defended windmill position. Fred again survived this latest attack and further action against Mouquet Farm in August 1916.
The 28th Battalion then spent several weeks in Belgium before returning to the Somme battlefield in October 1916.
Fred was involved in an attack on Flers on November 5th 1916, though again survived unscathed. He remained with the 28th Battalion through the freezing cold French Winter on 1916/17.
In February 1917 the Germans began to withdraw to their pre-prepared defensive positions at the Hindenburg Line. They conducted a fighting withdrawal and hotly contested the advance of the Australians and British. The Australians fought bravely to capture the Hindenburg Line Outpost villages.
On the 26th March 1917 the Fred and the 28th Battalion supported the 26th Battalion to capture Lagnicourt. The 28th Battalion saw further action through April and May 1917 including at Bullecourt. On coming out of the line after Bullecourt, Fred was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.
The 28th battalion were then sent on a three month rest period out of the lines and much time was taken on resting up after a strenuous last twelve months and then on training and sporting activities.
In September 1917 the 28th battalion headed for Belgium where they would be taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 the 28th Battalion took part in the action at the Battle of Menin Road. Fred again came through a major action safely, and in October and November 1917 served at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele.
On the 25th October 1917 Fred was given a well deserved two week furlough to the UK. He had served continuously since arriving in France so his leave was well accepted.
Upon his return he rejoined the 28th Battalion in Belgium. From November 1917 to March 1918 they helped to hold the front line south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines. On the 14th March 1918 Fred was given another two week furlough to England and he returned on the 23rd March 1918.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans had broken through the British front further south and the Australian divisions were sent to the Somme region to help stop this German advance. Fortunately Fred rejoined the 28th Battalion before they left Belgium.
Fred and the 28th Battalion came into contact with the Germans around Dernancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre in April 1918 and were in this region for a few weeks. They then remained around Morlancourt through May and June 1918, taking part in the capture of that village.
Fred and his unit were now sent to Villers-Bretonneux and in July 1918 the 28th Battalion successfully captured Monument Wood. A large advance was due to commence on August 8th 1918 but three days prior Fred was detached for duty with the Australian Army Postal Corps.
This appears to have been only for a few weeks and Fred returned to the 28th Battalion on the 25th August 1918. He then served at the capture of Mont St Quentin in early September 1918 and then the drive to the Hindenburg Line.
Fred was sent on leave to England on the 2nd October 1918 and thus missed the 28th Battalion's last action of the war on October 3rd 1918 at Montbrehain. Fred returned from leave on the 22nd October 1918. When he rejoined them the 28th Battalion were then on a rest period out of the front line.
The Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 and after the Germans withdrew behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. The 28th Battalion were sent to near Charleroi in Belgium.
On the 15th January 1919 Fred left the 28th Battalion for the final time and was sent to the Base Depot Camp at Le Havre. He spent five days here and was then sent to England. He was then sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott.
On the 28th February 1919 Fred boarded the transport ship Anchises and set sail for home, reaching Albany on the 7th April 1919.
Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 10th June 1919. He had fought through some of the severest battles fought by the AIF on the Western Front without once being wounded. He was a very fortunate man.
After his discharge from the AIF he returned home to Suffolk Street and resumed his work as a Storeman. The Gramkie's now moved to 60 Suffolk street which was on the opposite side of the road. (Later renumbered to 2 Suffolk)
Fred's father Charles died in 1925 and the family lived in Suffolk Street through the 1920's.
The family then moved to Bicton and Fred lived there till his Mother Elizabeth died in 1938.
Frederick Gramkie died in West Perth on the 7th August 1961 aged 83. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican ZS 0052.