S3709
STURGESS, Frederick William John
| Service Numbers: | 451, R451 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Sturt Street State School |
| Occupation: | Laborer |
| Died: | 16 March 1955, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: KO, Road: 21, Site No: 60 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Sturt Street Public School Great War Roll of Honour, Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 451, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 451, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, R451, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, R451, 27th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Adelaide |
Help us honour Frederick William John Sturgess's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Frederick William John Sturgess was born in July 1883 in Adelaide, South Australia. Prior to enlisting, he was a labourer and lived at 7 Henry St, St Peters with his wife, Alice Jane Sturgess. He enlisted on the 26th of January 1915 in Oaklands and was appointed to the 27th Battalion as a Private. His Battalion embarked on the HMAT Geelong on the 31st of May 1915 after intensive training, marches, farewell parades and speeches from the Governor and other dignitaries.
His unit arrived in Egypt to train for the battle at Gallipoli. However, Sturgess returned to Australia due to gonorrhoea. He re-embarked on the 9th of March 1916 onboard RMS Mongolia from Port Adelaide to Egypt.
On the 16th of April 1916, he was taken on strength to join the 4th Pioneer Battalion. Due to the re-consolidation of the AIF, which took place in Egypt at this time, many of the soldiers in Sturgess’ battalion were also posted to other units.
Sturgess and hisBbattalion trained from the 27th of May to the 2nd of June in Alexandria. From there, they proceeded to Marseilles, France, where the Battle of Somme (1/7/1916-18/11/1916) was occurring. Sturgess fought in the Battle of Pozieres (23/7/1916-3/9/1916), a part of the Somme offensive.
On the 1st of August, Sturgess suffered a gunshot wound to his chest. He was admitted to 22nd General Hospital in France, before being moved to the 1st Aux Hospital, Harefield in Brighton. After being discharged from hospital, he marched into the command depot and then into the Pioneer Training Battalion at Wareham. After he marched out to No.6 Company home service, he proceeded overseas to France to re-join his battalion.
Shortly after returning to his unit, Sturgess was admitted to 58th Cape Command Signals due to his old gunshot wound. From there, he was transported between multiple ambulances, hospitals, convalescent depots until he was taken on strength by the Australian Employment Company.
On the 1st of May 1918, Sturgess was admitted to 6th Field Ambulance due to PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin) and transported to a casualty clearing station before the 26th General Hospital.
After being discharged from hospital, Sturgess spent most of his time at convalescent depots and base depots before returning to Australia on the HMHS Nevasa on the 5th of March 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on the 25th of June 1919.
His injury and return to Australian was noted in several newspapers including the Advertiser, Chronicle and the Express and Telegraph.
Sturgess lived until the age of 72 and died on the 16th of March 1955. His grave is at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.
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