FRAZER, Edward Sladen
| Service Number: | 2997 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1915, Goulburn, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rochester, Victoria , July 1889 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Queen's School, St Peter's College, Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Accontant |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 28 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-les-Pernois, France I B 4 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book, Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2997, 60th Infantry Battalion, Goulburn, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2997, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2997, 60th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 28 Apr 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2997, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2997 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-04-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Edward Sladen FRAZER was born in Rochester, Victoria in 1889
His parents were William Edward FRAZER & Amelia Fanny CHAPMAN
Biography
From the book Fallen Saints
Edward Sladen Frazer of Goulburn NSW was born at Rochester, Victoria in July 1889. He joined the Bank of New South in Sydney as a clerk in 1909 and was transferred to a number city and country branches and was working in the Goulburn branch as an accountant until he enlisted on 20 August 1915. He was posted to D Company at the AIF Camp, Goulburn, NSW and on 17 May 1916 was transferred as an acting sergeant to the 5th quota of reinforcements for the 55th Battalion.
On 29 October, he was reallotted to the 7th quota of reinforcements for the 60th Battalion and sailed with them from Sydney aboard HMAT Afric on 3 November.
The 60th Battalion was raised in Egypt in February 1916 and with the 57th 58th and 59th made up the 15th Brigade, 5th Australian Division. The battalion’s introduction to combat came on 19 July when it was embroiled in the disastrous battle of Fromelles where in a single day the battalion sustained more than 750 casualties.
After disembarking in England on 10 January, the 7th reinforcements marched into the 15th Training Battalion and that day acting sergeant Frazer reverted to his substantive rank.
Private Frazer proceeded to France via Folkstone on 7 April and two days later arrived at the Australian Division Base Depot Étaples; he joined the battalion on 15 April.
On 12 May he was wounded in action and taken to 8th Australian Field Ambulance suffering with a gunshot wound to his right thigh and a fractured right forearm. He was evacuated through 3rd Casualty Clearing Station and the next day was invalided to England.
On 19 May he was admitted to an Auxiliary Hospital at Exeter for extensive treatment and transferred to No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall on 10 July. In August he was discharged to No. 2 Commonwealth Depot at Weymouth for light duties and was transferred to No 4 Commonwealth Depot at Codford until he returned to France on 12 September; he rejoined the battalion in the field on 14 November 1917.
At the beginning of March, he attended a musketry course and after returning to the unit was appointed lance corporal on 16 March. The 5th Division moved to defend the sector around Corbie later that month and he took part in the counter-attack at Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918.
Lance Corporal Edward Sladen Frazer suffered shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and left side and on 27 April was evacuated to No 4 Casualty Clearing Station where he died the following day; he was 27 years of age.
Letters and witness statement [i]
Officer Commanding No 4 Casualty Clearing Station letter to the Red Cross dated 9 July 1918.
Re 2997 Pte E S Frazer, 60th Battn. He was admitted to the CCS under my command on 27-4-18 with S. W. Side, left, penetrating abdomen. He died 2-45 p.m. 28-4-18, and was buried 29-4-18 in British Cemetery, grave No Plot 1. B. 4.
On 20 July 1918 Corporal Reuben Payten told the interviewing officer that Edward was his ‘great chum.’ He said that after Edward was hit in the stomach during the attack at Villers Bretonneux on 26 April he was carried away but died at No 4 Casualty Clearing Station, Bignacourt.
‘There were four or five buried there Frazer was one and their names put on a cross. His Christian names were Edward Sladen, & his Father Manager of the Bank in N.S.W. head office Sydney. ... ’
OIC Base Records letter to Edward’s father dated 29 August 1918.
I am now in receipt of advice which shows that he was wounded in the abdomen by shell-fire at 3.45 a.m. on the 27th April 1918. He died at No 4 Casualty Clearing Station at 7.30 a.m. on the following day of wound received, and was buried at the British Military Cemetery, Pernois. … [ii]
[i] Australian War Memorial, Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files - Frazer, Edward Sladen / 1110412, viewed 5 April 2006
[ii] National Archives of Australia: B 2455, - Frazer Edward Sladen / 4019961, viewed 25 May 2006
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