Frederick White
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Birmingham, England |
| Death | 13 May 1940, aged 60 |
| Place of Death | Canning Bridge, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 37 years, 6 months |
| Description | 5'7½" (1.71m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair, tattoo on left arm. |
| Occupation | Station Master |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Emily White |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 874 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jan 1917 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | Railway Unit, Section 3 renamed 5th Australian Railway Operating Company / 3rd Railway Corps |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Jan 1917 - 27 Mar 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A28 Miltiades |
| Date of Return | 1 Feb 1918 - 18 Mar 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Balmoral Castle |
| Fate | Wounded in Action by Shell concussion 21 Sep 1917 |
| Monument |
Armadale (West Armadale panel) Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1912 Prospect road, Armadale, railway employee. Fred began in the WA Government Railways at Midland as a temporary Porter in 1910 but at the time of his enlistment was married to Emily White and was the Station Master at Armadale.
War Service
On enlistment Fred was allocated to the Railway Corps, promoted Sergeant, and embarked for England within a week of joining.
On arrival in England he spent a couple of months familiarising himself with operations before embarking for France via Southampton on 11 May 1917. Posted to the 59th (later renumbered 5th) Australian Broadgauge Railway Operating Company, he was only in France for 6 weeks before he was taken on 20 Sep 1917 to the 35th Field Ambulance with shell concussion. He was transferred to the 63rd Casualty Clearing Station, followed by the 3rd Canadian General Hospital on 28 Sep 1917.
On 4 Nov 1917 he embarked for England and arrived at No 2 Command Depot in Weymouth on 5 Nov 1917 where it was determined that he should return early to Australia for 'change'.
Discharged (NYD) Nerves, 5th Military District 12 Apr 1918.
"Our general assistant station master has enlisted in the Special Railway Corps that W.A. is sending out."[1]
Award Comment
Post War
On his return he resumed with the railways but resigned in 1922 after extended periods of sick leave. His railway medical records record "Shell-shock" as the illness.[2]
Electoral Roll entries - 1921 newsagent at 178 Hampton road South Fremantle; 1925-1934 motor driver at 68 Planet street, Carlisle; 1936 bus proprietor; 1937 at 7 The Esplanade, Canning Bridge; Emily remains at this address after Fred's death. Emily died 19 Sep 1970 aged 90.