Ablett, Frederick William
307 Gunner Frederick William Ablett - 3rd Division Medium Trench Mortar Battery
Frederick William Ablett was born in Woodville South Australia on the 14th August 1883 to Thomas and Elizabeth Ablett. He had his early years in South Australia and was initially educated there before the family moved to Western Australia. They then took up residence in Fremantle.
On the 5th August 1906 Frederick married Mary Letitia Alford and they had Phyllis 1911, Stanley 1915, Jean 1920 and John.
By 1906 they were living at 14 Lord Street Beaconsfield - (renamed Price Street c/1908)
Fred was a Wood Machinist by trade and for a few years went to work at Lion Mill which was just near Sawyers Valley. However prior to the Great War, the family were back in Fremantle, living at 162 Duke Street East Fremantle.
On the 3rd January 1916 Fred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the Medical Examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 135lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Fred was sent to No.44 Training Depot at Claremont Camp. After two weeks of undergoing basic infantry training, Fred was then assigned to "B" Company of the newly forming 44th Battalion AIF. The 44th battalion would now commence training at Claremont Showgrounds Camp. Fred was soon given the regimental number 307.
He trained with this group in WA through April and May 1916 and in early June their embarkation orders arrived.
On the 6th June 1916 the 44th Battalion boarded the HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 21st July 1916. After being disembarked the men were sent to the 3rd Division Training ground at Salisbury Plains. They would train here over the next several months, during which time they were also given leave to see the sights of England.
During his time in England, Fred was transferred from the 44th battalion to help form a new unit, the 3rd Division Medium trench Mortar Battery. Each battery was equipped with four 2-inch medium trench mortars, later transitioning to newer ordnance like the 6-inch Newton mortar. They would provide fire support to the infantry in the front line.
On the 23rd November 1916 Fred's unit arrived in France and they were sent to the Armentieres region of Northern France. They would be in this sector for the next few months while they gained experience of the Western Front.
In January 1917 Fred had a week in hospital suffering from myalgia but soon returned to his unit. In April 1917 the 3rd Australian Division moved to the Ploegsteert sector of Southern Belgium. They would gain experience in this area before becoming involved in the Battle of Messines.
Fred's Battery provided fire support for the infantry as they attacked the German line at Messines. Due to mines being exploded under the German front line, the opening phase of the Messines action was very successful though the further the advance went, the German resistance stiffened.
Fred and the 3rd Division Trench Mortars would be in this sector till August 1917. In September 1917 they then moved to Ypres to take part in the current offensive taking place there. Fred's trench mortars would provide fire support in operations around Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. Fred was in action at Ypres from September till November 1917.
In December 1917 the 3rd Division moved south east of Ypres and held part of the front line between Hollebeke and Messines. They would be in this sector till March 1918. On the 16th February Fred was granted two weeks leave to England, returning to France on the 4th March 1918.
On his return Fred was now assigned to the 5th Australian Medium trench Mortar Battery. On the 11th March 1918 Fred was slightly wounded when hit in the arm by shrapnel. After treatment at the Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station he was sent to a Convalescent Camp for a few weeks before rejoining his unit on the 11th April 1918.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans had launched their massive offensive which broke through the British Third & Fifth Armies and they were making a speedy advance towards Amiens. The Australian divisions were initially sent south to stem this breakthrough.
So when Fred rejoined his unit on April 11th 1918 they were supporting the Australians on the Somme in the vicinity of Sailly-le-Sec.
For the next few months, Fred and his unit were supporting the Australian infantry operations around the Somme River and Villers-Bretonneux. they remained in this sector till the 8th August 1918.
With the large advance which commenced on August 8th 1918, Fred's unit were constantly on the move forward supporting the Australian infantry from Villers-Bretonneux through to Montbrehain on the 3rd October 1918. By this stage Fred had been promoted to the rank of Bombardier.
When the Armistice was signed on the 11th November 1918 Fred and his unit were having a rest period out of the front line. When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France.
On the 8th February 1919 Fred was given a two week furlough to England, returning to France on the 24th February 1919. He would spend another month in France and on the 2nd April 1919 Fred was returned to England. He was sent to No.3 Group Camp at Codford and would wait there to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home.
On the 11th May 1919 Fred went aboard the transport ship Borda and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 23rd June 1919.
Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 5th September 1919. He then went to live at 171 Attfield Street Beaconsfield. (later renumbered to 101 Attfield)
After a few years in Fremantle Fred moved his family to New South Wales where he was working as a Mill Foreman.
His father died in Fremantle April 1928 and his mother died in Fremantle on the 4th January 1931.
From 1930 to 1943 Fred was working out of Broken Hill NSW as a Mill Foreman. He then moved to Smithfield NSW before retiring to Fairfield in Werriwa NSW.
Fred died on the 18th September 1967 in Smithfield NSW aged 84.