Griffiths, Frederick William

7585 Private Frederick William Griffiths - 11th Battalion AIF

Frederick William Griffiths was born in Fremantle on the 19th September 1898 to George and Mary Griffiths. He had three other siblings that were born into the family, George 1889, James 1893 and Charles 1895 though sadly Charles died in 1896. The family then lived at 6 Point Street Fremantle.

He grew up in Fremantle before the family moved to Collie in the mid 1900's. He completed his education at Collie and then took up work as a labourer. He also saw service in the Citizens Military Forces with the 88th Battery Field Artillery.

On the 15th September 1916 Frederick enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 inches tall;

Weight - 125lbs;

Chest Measureemnt - 33-35 inches;

Complexion  -Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment, Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially put into No.85 Training Depot. He was then sent to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion and trained with them for several weeks, but was then returned to No.22 Training Depot.

On the 17th January 1917 Fred was transferred to the 5th Military District Guard. He was on these duties till the 17th April 1917. He was then transferred to the 21st Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He was only with this group for a few days. Perhaps because his two older brothers, George and James were serving with the 11th Battalion, it appears that Fred may have requested to join them so he was moved to the 25th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.

Fred trained with this reinforcement group in WA from the 21st April to 28th June 1917. They then received their orders to depart, and on the 29th June 1917 entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Borda and set sail for England. After a long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth England on the 25th August 1917.

After being disembarked Fred and his group were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. After five days in camp Fred was evacuated to Fargo Military Hospital suffering from influenza. It took Fred a few weeks to get over the influenza as he did not return to training until the 28th September 1917.

On the 7th November 1917 Fred was transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion at Sutton Veny and he sepnt a few more months here, amongst which were a few bouts of going absent without leave.

On the 24th January 1918 Fred arrived in France and was sent to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre. He spent a few days here and then joined the 11th Battalion on the 31st January 1918. The 11th Batatlion were then helping to hold the front line in Belgium south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines.

Fred had only been with the 11th battalion for six days when he was evacuated with scabies. He spent twelve days in hospital, returning to the 11th Battalion on the 18th January 1918.

Fred then served with his unit for the next month. On the 19th March 1918 while in the front line near Hill 60, Fred was wounded when shrapnel struck him in the arm and thigh. After initial treatment at the Field Ambulance, Fred was sent to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station and from there was sent to the 14th Stationary Hospital for further treatment.

Fred recovered well and was released from hospital on the 11th April 1918 but then spent the next month in various convalescent camps in France. Fred rejoined the 11th battalion on the 12th May 1918.

The 11th battalion were now at Merris in Northern France. A few days after rejoining Fred had another bout of scabies which necessitated a few more weeks out of the line at the 12th Stationary Hospital. Fred rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 30th May 1918 and spent the next two weeks with them in the trenches, but on the 16th June was evacuated ill with influenza.

Fred was sent to the 18th Stationary Hospital at Camiers France.  He had nearly a month in hospital as he rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 16th July 1918. The 11th Battalion were still situated near Merris and Meteren in Northern France.

On the 19th July 1918, three days after rejoining the 11th Battalion, Fred was wounded. The 11th Battalion were supporting a neighbouring unit capture the village of Meteren. The Germans unleashed a torrent of shellfire on the 11th Battalion and they lost 6 killed and 13 wounded. Fred was one of the wounded, being hit by shrapnel. He was sent to hospital at Boulogne and fortunately recovered quickly.

Fred was released from hospital on the 20th August 1918 and then spent a few weeks at the convalescent depot. Fred rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 5th September 1918. He served with them in the next few weeks in their operations against the Germans. On the 18th September 1918 the 11th Battalion took part in operations around Jeancourt. This would turn out to be their last attack of the war as they were then relieved from the line for a well deserved rest.

Two days after this attack Fred was sent to hospital ill and he was diagnosed with general debility. He spent the next two months in hospital and conavalesent camps. When the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 Fred was still resting up at a Convalescent Camp.

He returned to the 11th Battalion on the 19th November 1918. He served with them for another two weeks and was then granted leave to England. While in England he reported ill and was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, as Fred had contracted venereal disease.

Fred was in hospital till February 1919 and after being release was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Parkhouse. He would now wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 31st March 1919 Fred had gone to Liverpool where he boarded the transport ship Khyber.

Fred arrived back in Fremantle on the 24th May 1919. After being disembarked he was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical examination. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 25th June 1919.

On his return from the war Fred secured employment on Fremantle Harbour as a Lumper. He was living at the corner of Attfield Lane and Lloyd Street Fremantle.(Attfield Lane later renamed Parmelia Street)

He got married in 1922 to Ruby May Bates and they had two sons, Ronald and Jack, both born in 1923.

By 1925  the family were living at 44 McClaren Street South Fremantle (later renumbered to 21 McLaren) and in 1931 moved to 13 Price Street Fremantle.

His father died in 1933 in Fremantle and they were still at  23 Price Street through the 1930's. Fred was now working in the Timber industry.

Frederick enlisted successfully for service in World War Two. He was assigned service number W26639 and served with the 5th Garrison Battalion during 1941 to 1942.

By 1943 the family had moved to 17 Solomon Street East Fremantle.

His mother died in Fremantle in 1946. The family continued to lived in Solomon Street through to 1968 when they moved to 121 Winterfold Street Coolbellup/Hilton

Fred died on the 6th June 1974 in Coolbellup WA aged 75. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.