Frederick William SLADE

Frederick William SLADE Update Details

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SLADE, Frederick William

Service Number:	684
Enlisted:	Not yet discovered
Last Rank:	Gunner
Last Unit:	29th Infantry Battalion
Born:	November 1882, place not yet discovered
Home Town:	Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria
Schooling:	Albert Park State School
Occupation:	Cabinet Maker
Died:	Died of head wound and fractured skull, France, 21 June 1918
Cemetery:	Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

10 Nov 1915:	Involvement Private, 684, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
10 Nov 1915:	Embarked Private, 684, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne
21 Jun 1918:	Involvement Gunner, 684, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 684 awm_unit: 51 Battalion Battery 13th Brigade Australian Field Artillery awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1918-06-21

Frederick Slade's Story

As a child I lived with my parents, Jack and Beryl Marrs and my sister, Lilian in my grandparents’ house in Brunswick, Victoria. The house was full of family memorabilia and treasures, including Frederick Slade’s medals from WWI, the official telegram notifying the family of his death and a few other possessions which were returned to the family on his death. Uncle Fred, as I have fondly referred to him all my life was my grandmother, Maggie Slade’s brother. As a boy, I was interested in his medals and fortunately inherited them.

I didn’t know much about my Great Uncle Fred, but was interested in learning more about his story and war record. This led me to write to the Central Army Records Office in Canberra in 1986. From this we learned that Fred had enlisted in Melbourne on 10th July 1915 and was given army number 684. Other information provided informed me that he served in the Middle East and France, and that he died from head wounds on 21st June 1918.

My interest to search further into Uncle Fred’s story took my wife, Elizabeth and I to the War Memorial in Canberra where an archivist assisted us with our search. We were able to read and make notes from the war diary of the AFA Brigade, which gave us a glimpse of the battery’s movements and his life until his death in 1918. Only officers are mentioned by name among the dead and injured. Information taken from the diary entry on June 1, 1918, at Fouilloy said that they were shelled by gas at 3-4.30 am. Later one enemy salvo burst in 51st Battery position wounding 6 O/R (Other Ranks). I assume that Uncle Fred was one of the 6 injured as there were no other injuries or deaths reported between this date and the date of his death on 21st June at 47 Casualty Clearing Station.

In 2004 my wife and I had the honour of visiting Uncle Fred’s grave at Crouy Cemetery, France, where I placed a sheath of artificial blue gum and poppies on his grave. RIP Frederick William Slade. Your sacrifice has never been forgotten.

Gary Marrs

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia