Frederick Walter Benjamin FULLER

Badge Number: S26590, Sub Branch: Woodville
S26590

FULLER, Frederick Walter Benjamin

Service Number: 2868
Enlisted: 9 June 1915, Keswick
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 50th Infantry Battalion
Born: Maylands, South Australia, Australia, 4 January 1897
Home Town: Woodville, Charles Sturt, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Grocer
Died: Natural causes, Woodville, South Australia, Australia, 14 September 1962, aged 65 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
RSL Walls
Memorials: Woodville Saint Margaret's Anglican Church Lych Gate
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World War 1 Service

9 Jun 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2868, 10th Infantry Battalion, Keswick
21 Sep 1915: Involvement Private, 2868, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
21 Sep 1915: Embarked Private, 2868, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide
18 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2868, 50th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres
11 Nov 1918: Involvement Private, 2868, 50th Infantry Battalion
19 Jul 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2868, 50th Infantry Battalion

Help us honour Frederick Walter Benjamin Fuller's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College

Son of Walter Thomas FULLER and Sarah Letitia nee COLEMAN

Before the war

Frederick Walter Benjamin Fuller was born in Stepney South Australia on the 8th of April 1897. His complexion was dark, he had dark hair, brown eyes and his religion was Presbyterian. He lived with his mother whose name was Sarah Letitia Fuller on Sheridan Street, Fensbury Park Woodville, in South Australia. She was also Frederick's next of kin when he went to war. There is no information about his father. Frederick’s occupation was a grocer, possibly working for a family business since it was just him and his mother. There is a high chance he did not have a proper education; however, he was a hard worker. He was not married and had no children. He was 58 kilograms and 5 foot 4. There was a form signed on the 2nd of June 1915 with this information, which proved he was fit and healthy for war, with no health conditions. On the 9th of June 1915, he was 18 years and 6 months when he enlisted into WWI.

During the war

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on the HMAT A15 Star of England to go to France on the 21st of September 1915. Then on the 21st November, he was taken on strength to the 10th battalion reinforcements as a private soldier; his regimental number was 2868. On the 29th February 1916 he was transferred from the 10th battalion and taken on strength to the 50th battalion. Taken on strength means to be added to a military organisation. On the 6th May, he was appointed to be a driver in France. However, Frederick got 14 days of detention on the 31st of December 1916, it was unknown how.

The following year, 1917 on the 18th of October he suffered a gunshot wound in the left knee. He was moved to England for treatment. Frederick's mother received two letters from the Australian Imperial Force that he got wounded and sent to hospital in a mild condition, this would have been very confronting for his mother. He was sent to Longbridge Deverill Sand Hill Camp, which was a village south of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. Sand Hill Camp was for those injured or ill but were still considered fit enough to continue active service. Where he would train to strengthen himself up for his life back in the trenches.

The following year in 1918 on the 23rd of January he sailed to France via the Southampton boat and rejoined his battalion on 9th February. In July he fell sick and went to the hospital and a few days later he re-joined his unit. He embarked back to England in 1919, 15th of January on the H.I.B.D Havre boat.

After the war

He was advised that he would be returning to Australia and discharged out of the 4th Military District which is South Australia. Each state had a military district to be known for to assist with the administration of the new Australian army. Frederick then embarked to return to Australia safely on the 5th of April 1919. On the 14th of September 1962, he died living to 65 years old, it is unknown how he died. He was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia. He was the recipient of 3 medals being a 1914-15 Star for enlisting into the war early, British War Medal and a Victory Medal which was given to many of the ANZACS who fought in the British Imperial Force during WW1.

Bibliography

  • Frederick Walter Benjamin FULLER n.d., viewed 20 March 2020, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=105424>.
  • Australian War Memorial n.d., viewed 20 March 2020, <https://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll-search>.
  • National Archives of Australia n.d., viewed 17 March 2020, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/ItemsListing.aspx>.
  • Australian Red Cross n.d., viewed 17 March 2020, <https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/packet-content/53452#https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/packet_images/4611/SRG76_1_4611_3.jpg>.

 

 

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