Frederick James Powell
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail 15 Nov 1918 p.19 | |
 Linton Reynolds photo May 2023 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth |
unknown "unknown" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation. |
| Place of Birth | Guildford, Western Australia |
| Death | 30 Aug 1918 |
| Place of Death | Mont Saint Quentin, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 26 years old |
| Description |
5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 125 lbs 56.699 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Post Office, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Emily Maud Powell |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 5066 |
| Date of Enlistment | 13 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 13th Reinforcements, A Company (Lewis gunner) / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 13 Jul 1916 ‒ 9 Sep 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A48 Seang Bee |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 29 Aug 1918 Died of those Wounds 30 Aug 1918 |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Married Emily Maud Dawson (b. 1882) during 1914 in the Canning district. A daughter Nancy Edna was born in 1915, and died in 2009. Emily died on 3 Aug 1955 at Maddington, Western Australia.
War Service
Records for his four months at Blackboy Hill camp are missing but he departed for England as a member of the 13th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion aboard HMAT A48 Seang Bee.
On arrival in England Frederick joined the 7th Training Battalion in Rollestone on 10 Sep 1916 before proceeding to France on SS Princess Henriette from Folkestone on 2 Nov 1916 to join the 2nd Division's Base Depot in Étaples.
On 18 Nov 1916 Fred was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion when it moved out of the line to the Fricourt Camp in the Albert area. On 19 Apr 1917 Fred presented to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station with Influenza, and was placed on an Ambulance Train for Rouen the next day. Admitted to the 5th General Hospital on 21 Apr 1917 he was transferred to the 25th Stationary Hospital (also in Rouen) on 3 May 1917. On 11 May he was transferred to the 25th General Hospital with enteric, and on 2 Jun 1917 he was evacuated to England aboard HMHS Western Australia.
Admitted to the University War Hospital on 3 Jun 1917, he remained with them until he was released on 1 Oct 1917. Spent a few days at Croyden before moving to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and then to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott. Eventually on 7 Feb 1918 he was judged to be fit to resume hostilities, and was sent back to France, rejoining the 28th Battalion in Belgium on 13 Feb 1918.
On 29 Aug 1918 the battalion was continuing the very successful advance along the Somme, taking Flaucourt and continuing forward before meeting strong resistance at Biaches Wood on the banks of the Somme opposite Péronne. During the day, Fred had received shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and to one knee.
Private P.H. Henry 5024 told the Red Cross: "I saw Freddy Powell A Coy hit by a piece of shell in stomach-also in leg at Peronne, about 11:00am just after we reached our objective". Henry (Powell's No 2 on the Lewis gun) dressed his wounds and left him in a shell hole for protection. An NCO in his company saw him wounded by a shell in front of Péronne, and saw him being carried off by a couple of stretcher bearers to the 6th Australian Field Ambulance and then to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station where he died at 7:00 am. [1]
"Enlisted 28th February, 1916; sailed with the 13th Reinforcements of the 28th Battalion. In firing line."[2]
Post War
In Dec 1918, Emily had moved from Armadale to Cecil street, Victoria Park.
AN ARMADALE MEMORIAL.St. Matthew's Church, Armadale, was crowded on Sunday afternoon last when his Grace the Archbishop of Perth unveiled a memorial tablet to the memory of Frederick James Powell, who died of wounds in France in August, 1918.
The deceased soldier was before the war a consistent and devoted member of the church and a member of the choir. His widow has erected a memorial tablet near the seat he used to occupy. Miss Wilson presided at the organ, and Mr. Witney sounded "The' Last Post."
Many of the returned soldiers of the district were present, and formed a guard of honour to his Grace, both on entering and leaving the church; they were in command of Capt. Adams and Lieut. Scott.[3]
Notes
Buried at DAHOURS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Lot VIII, Row B, Grave 11. 4.4 km west of Corbie. Son of Frederick Elijah and Minnie Powell, of Armadale, Western Australia.
References
- ↑ "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Frederick James Powell". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ↑ "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia.
- ↑ "AN ARMADALE MEMORIAL.". The Australian (160). Western Australia. 17 September 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.