Frederick Owen Werndly

Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire p.142
Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Footscray, Victoria
Death	1 Aug 1918
Place of Death	Halloy-Les-Pernois, France
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 6 months
Description	5' 5¾" (1.67m) tall; weight 126 lbs (57.2 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	farm labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Fremantle road (Forrest road), Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Martha Werndly
Military Information
Reg Number	4090
Date of Enlistment	26 Jun 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	32nd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement / 8th Brigade, 5th Division
Date of Embarkation	30 Oct 1916 - 28 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A16 Port Melbourne
Fate	Wounded in Action 30 Jul 1918 Died of Wounds 1 Aug 1918

War Service

After a month in Blackboy Hill training camp, Fred was allocated to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion on 1 Aug 1916. However the 32nd Battalion had a greater need, and he was transferred to their 10th reinforcement draft on 5 Sep 1916.

On arrival in England he joined the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott for just under 3 months additional training before proceeding overseas to France via Folkestone on 28 Mar 1917.

On 18 Aug 1917, Fred was hospitalised with Trench Fever followed by a bout of influenza, and didn't return to his battalion until 11 Dec 1917.

He was involved in actions at Armentieres, Bapaume, Messines, Bullecourt and Amiens before losing his life as a result of a serious shell wound to his head received on 30 Jul 1918 while the battalion was being heavily shelled by the Germans. Seven others from the battalion lost their lives, and 63 more were wounded during the 24 hour period.

Carried first to the 56th Field Ambulance, and then to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station for treatment, he died from his wounds on 1 Aug 1918.

He is mentioned in The Drill of the Foot-Hills 1917 Feb-Mar edition, but no detail.

Death Notice WERNDLY.-Died of wounds on August 1, somewhere in France, Private Frederick Owen, dearly beloved youngest son of Mrs. M. Werndly, Armadale. brother of Mrs. J. E. Buchi, Armadale, Harry, Dowerin, Albert, West Bank Victoria, Arthur (on active service), and Charles, Armadale. God is our sorrow, but God knows best, He has taken our loved one home to rest. Inserted by his sorrowing mother, sister and brothers.

Notes

PERNOIS BRITISH CEMETERY, HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS - Plot III, Row C, Grave 1. Son of Henry and Martha Werndly, of Armadale, Western Australia. Pernois and Halloy are villages on either side of the secondary road about 16 kilometres south-west of Doulle or 21 km north-north west of Amiens.