Leslie George FREW

FREW, Leslie George

Service Number: 3519
Enlisted: 5 July 1915, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 59th Infantry Battalion
Born: Armadale, Victoria, Australia, July 1896
Home Town: Armadale, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Boiler attendant
Died: Died of wounds, London, England, United Kingdom, 3 August 1916
Cemetery: Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, London England
Plot 16, row 33431, grave D,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

5 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3519, Melbourne, Victoria
5 Jan 1916: Involvement Private, 3519, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''
5 Jan 1916: Embarked Private, 3519, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne
19 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3519, 59th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), GSW (both thighs)
3 Aug 1916: Involvement Private, 3519, 59th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3519 awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-08-03

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Biography contributed by Thomas Frew

Leslie George Frew was born in July 1896, in Armadale, Victoria. He was the son of W.G. and Grace Anny Frew.

When he was of age, Leslie attended State School, Northcote, Victoria. He also held a job as a boiler attendant. Despite managing both work and study, Leslie also had military experience prior to enlisting as a private for the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F). This service was with the Citizen Military Forces, although it is unknown when and where he served. Leslie was also Christian, attending the Church of England every Sunday.

On the 10th of July, 1915, Leslie enlisted as an A.I.F. private. He was 20 years and eight months old at the time. His registration also came with a note from his mother, Grace, verifying that he could indeed enlist. She wrote, “I give my permission for my safe Leslie George Frew to enlist”. Judging by the way she wrote, it was clear that she cared very much about her son.

On the 5th of January, 1916, Leslie embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, aboard the HMAT A19 Afric. He boarded alongside the 57th Infantry Battalion, as part of the 15th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division. Soon after the Afric landed Leslie and his unit ended up in the village of Pozières, France. With prior fighting experience and a job as a boiler attendant, it is likely that Leslie was much stronger and more able to withstand the conditions of war than many of his fellow privates could.

Leslie fought German troops alongside 7505 military personnel of the A.I.F. First alongside the 57th Battalion. He fought there for about two months, before being transferred to the 59th Battalion on the 15th of March 1916. It is likely that Leslie’s mother enquired about this, as she received a personal letter from the regiment of the 55th Battalion confirming this.

It was alongside the 59th Battalion that Leslie acquired an infected finger (also known as “Septic Finger”) on the 12th of May 1916. He was taken away via the 14th field ambulance to heal. 2 days later, his finger was fixed up, and he was permitted to return to the fight.

Unfortunately, Leslie’s next wound was a lot more serious. On the 19th of July, he received gunshot wounds to both thighs while fighting in action. He was taken away via the 1st field ambulance and transferred to Wimereux, England; getting admission to the 8th State hospital. After 13 days in hospital, Leslie died of secondary haemorrhage.

Leslie passed away on the 3rd of August, 1916. He was 21 years and nine months old. He was buried at Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, in plot 16, row 33431, grave D.

Leslie was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his hard work supporting our nation. His contributions will not be forgotten. Lest we forget.

 

Sources:

National Archives of Australia n.d., Frew Leslie George : SERN 3519 : POB Armadale VIC : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK M Frew Gertrude, accessed 2 June 2018, <https://www.discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/89007>.

UNSW Australia n.d., Leslie George FREW, accessed 31 May 2018, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=104676>.

RSL Virtual War Memorial n.d., FREW, Leslie George, accessed 31 May 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/183585>.

Australian War Memorial n.d., 57th Australian Infantry Battalion, accessed 31 May 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51497>.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission n.d., Private FREW, LESLIE GEORGE, accessed 2 June 2018, <https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/381626/frew,-leslie-george/>.

RSL Virtual War Memorial n.d., Pozières, accessed 31 May 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/campaigns/5>.

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