DARLING, Frederick Brooke
| Service Number: | 4432 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 February 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, 29 January 1892 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Box Hill Grammar and King College London |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Melbourne, Victoria, 9 May 1953, aged 61 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 4432, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 4432, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Berrima, Melbourne | |
| 1 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain |
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"LIEUT. F. B. DARLING, M.C.
Among recent winners of the Military Cross is Lieut. F. B. Darling, who, although a resident of Victoria, belongs to one of South Australia's best-known families. In recording the distinction, The Melbourne Herald says:—
"Lieut. Fred. B. Darling, of the Medium Trench Mortars, 1st Australian Division, Australian Field Artillery, has gained enviable distinction at the front. Lieut. Darling is a son of Mr. Charles A. Darling, of Scott street, Canterbury, Victoria, and a nephew of the lata Mr. John Darling, the "wheat king" of South Australia. Lieut. Darling was educated at the Box Hill Grammar School and King's College School, London. He enlisted at Melbourne in February, 1915, as a private, and saw five months' heavy fighting at Gallipoli, his gun being specially commended for effective shooting.
— Commendation From a General. —
"Promoted to the rank of lieutenant, the young officer, by his subsequent work in France, won the Military Cross. With regard to the latter honour, Lieut.-Gen. Sir. William Birdwood sent the following personal letter of congratulation, dated August 17:—
"This is a line to congratulate you very heartily upon the Military Cross which I am so glad has been awarded to you for the good work you did on the 25th of last month, during the capture of Pozieres. I well know with what determination and courage you kept your gun in action for half an hour, until your ammunition was exhausted, during the heavy counter-attack made by the Germans. Your action forced them to leave their trenches, and this greatly assisted in our repelling the counter-attack. So many thanks for your good work, and good wishes to you."
Darling had kept his guns in action until the ammunition was exhausted, assisting to serve them himself, and aiding greatly in repelling a German attack.
— Men Wanted. —
The following extracts from let- ters sent by Lieut. Darling to his father show that much remains for Australians to do in the war:— August 12— "Tell everybody you see that we must have more men. There will be millions knocked out before this war is finished, and any male who slacks behind should not be allowed to continue to hold the honour of being a citizen of the British Empire." August 29—"Seriously, I think this war will last at least another 18 months, if not two years, and people want to be impressed with the necessity of everybody doing what he can to finish it off successfully. Fighting material and men are wanted more than anything." - from the Adelaide Observer 28 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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