Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick William Johns was born in London on the 5th February 1905. He emigrated to Australia age 19 in 1924 aboard the Ballarat. Work was scarce during the great depression and he was the eldest boy in a family of 10 children. Apparently the choice was either Canada or Australia and the Australian ship sailed first. 

He found work labouring and making wooden packing cases for transporting fruit and vegetables in the Wimmera Mallee region of Victoria, where he met Ida Marguerite Hobbs they married on 23 July 1938 at St Judes, Carlton. They lived in Carlton for a while before building a unique home in Altona on a large block which they filled with lots of large fruit trees and a Jaccaranda out the front. Ida and Frederick had two children, a boy & a girl.

Frederick joined the RAAF in Jan 1942 telling them he was born in 1907 to enlist, so he must have be keen to do his duty. Frederick however never saw service as he was discharged medically unfit in August 1942. He drove taxis and did labouring work, including working on the Westgate Bridge at the time it collapsed. Luckily for him he had that particular day off sick. His other pastimes included Cars, fishing, smoking & following the gg's. He passed away after a stroke on the 19 May 1983 age 78.

by Linda White

(Granddaughter)