ATKINSON, Frederick Gordon Thomas
| Service Number: | 3681 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 August 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Footscray, Victoria, 7 February 1890 |
| Home Town: | Coburg, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | North Melbourne State School |
| Occupation: | Sheet metal worker |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 30 March 1917, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Coburg Baptist Church Honor Roll, West Coburg Methodist Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3681, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3681, 6th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3681, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 30 Mar 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3681, 60th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robyne Undy
ATKINSON, Frederick Gordon Thomas
Frederick Gordon Thomas Atkinson was born Feb 7th 1890 in Footscray, Victoria to Amelia & Richard Atkinson. Frederick married Bessie (Elizabeth) Benton on April 3rd 1912 in Fawkner, Vic. Frederick was a sheet metal worker and the eldest of Richard and Amelia's 7 surviving children of 12. Frederick and his 2 brothers Raymond Leslie Atkinson and Herbert Havelock Atkinson all enlisted in the AIF for WWI.
Frederick enlisted on 07/08/1915. He embarked on the HMAT Ceramic on 23/11/1915 bound for Egypt. On Feb 24th he travelled from Alexandria, Egypt to France disembarking in Marseilles on 30/03/1916. Little is known about Fred's time in the trenches after he arrived in France. The 60th battalion was involved in heavy fighting at the battle of Fromelles and was nearly wiped out. In October 1916 Fred was among thousands of Commonwealth reinforcements camped among the sand dunes near the French village of Entables. On December 8th 1916 Fred was admitted to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers with trench feet later returning to the field near Entables. On 05/03/1917 the Australian Field Ambulance conveyed Fred to the 3rd Australian clearing station with gunshot wounds to his arms and left buttock. He died a short time later from his wounds.
As Fred's brother Raymond Atkinson was also reported as having died in action on 4/8/1916 the Minister of Defence was prompted to send the family word that their remaining son Herbert Havelock Atkinson was to be returned home.
Herbert Havelock Atkinson was the first of Amelia and Richard Atkinson's sons to enlist on 03/02/1915. He was part of the 21st Battalion, raised as part of the 6th Brigade at Broadmeadows. Herb was returned home on 24/09/1917.
The family's losses were great and on 04/10/1921, their father Richard Atkinson signed for a memorial scroll and King's message in memory of his sons' sacrifices during the war.
Submitted 13 April 2017 by Robyne Undy, compiled from official WW1 AIF records and from research by Lee-ann Atkinson for the "Thames Legacy" the Atkinson Family Tree.
Biography contributed by Gary Atkinson
Also known as Frederick George Thomas Atkinson - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au) (www.awm.gov.au)
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