Frederick Owen Werndly
From Our Contribution
 Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire p.142 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown 1894 |
| 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 ; 126 lbs 57.153 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 |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel)< Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
Family living in Armadale by 1897. father died there in 1906.
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.[1]
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.
- ↑ "Family Notices". The West Australian. XXXIV, (5,107). Western Australia. 17 August 1918. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.