Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Fred was the second of five children of Henry Robert Mackean (born 1862 in London, England) and Louisa Jane Perry (born 1865 in London, England). Henry was a Conductor in 1885 when he married Louisa. They settled in London, where Henry was a Commercial Traveller when he died in 1899. Louisa remarried in 1903 and immigrated to Perth, Western Australia with husband John Gates in 1914.

Fred was working as a Domestic Page Boy in London in 1901 when he enlisted in The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (2nd Battalion) - he was fourteen years of age. He served as a Boy, Private and Lance Corporal (Regimental No:641) until he was Discharged in January 1914.

Fred immigrated in 1914 to Fremantle, WA - arriving on board the Australind and stating his occupation as Soldier. He married Ethel Rosalind Bolt (born 1882 in Devon, England) that year and he was amongst the first to enlist in the AIF in September 1914, giving his occupation as 'Musician' in Leederville, Perth, WA. Later statements to the Repatriation Commission state that Fred was an Instructor with the Commonwealth Military Forces (National Archives Australia). Fred served as a Sergeant (Service No:329), 2nd Lieutenant and Lieutenant with 11th Infantry Battalion in Egypt, Gallipoli and on the Western Front. In July 1916 he was WiA - Gas Poisoning - in France, and was Discharged in July 1919.

Returning to Australia, Fred spent some time in the Blue Mountains in NSW and in Ceylon in attempts to improve his health. In 1921 he was an Orchard Hand at Harvey, WA when he married Alma (Dolly) Emma Taylor (born 1900 in Harvey, WA). Fred worked as a Mixed Farmer before becoming a Warder at Fremantle Prison in 1925. He and Dolly moved to Perth where Fred worked as a Postal Employee, Clerk, and Foreman. During the 1920/30's Fred worked to have his ill health declared as a result of his war service, and statements to support his appeal to the Repatriation Commission stated that 'Mr Mackean bore an excellent character and proved himself to be a splendid soldier. So highly did I think of him that he was speedily promoted from the ranks to commissioned rank (Colonel Johnston, 1924). The Commission questioned why Fred had not lodged claims immediately he returned from War, and Mr HT Stafford stated (National Archives Australia; 1930) '... he had long regarded the desertion by his wife (Ethel) during the war period as equivalent of divorce and had remarried. For this reason he was reluctant to approach the Department for fear of disclosure' (Ethel had returned to England and worked as a Cook in Devon, She died in 1959).

Fred died in 1949 in an accident at work - he fell down steps and fractured his skull. Dolly remarried and died in 1971.