GAULTON, Frederick Bryce
| Service Number: | 675 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1914, Castlemaine, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, 11 October 1894 |
| Home Town: | Castlemaine, Mount Alexander, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gas fitter |
| Died: | 26 June 1966, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, Castlemaine, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 8 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Krithia | |
| 25 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, GSW to right hand. Evacuated to UK. Rejoined unit 29 July 1916 in France. | |
| 10 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 14 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm | |
| 13 Sep 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 30 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 675, 7th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Hazebrouck | |
| 23 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", SW to right elbow during the attack on Chuignes. Evacuated to UK. Never rejoined unit. | |
| 16 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, RTA 4 December 1918 and appointment terminated as MU (wounds). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Shortly after war broke out, Fred, a 19 year-old gas fitter and member of the local militia, enlisted in the AIF on 20 August 1914. Allocated to the 7th Battalion, he embarked overseas on 19 October.
On 25 April 1915, the 7th Battalion landed at Gallipoli with the second wave. In the ensuing fighting the battalion suffered 541 casualties. Ten days later, the battalion was transferred from ANZAC Cove to Cape Helles to take part in the ill-fated attack on Krithia, where it lost another 277 men.
Fred sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand on 25 August and was evacuated to England. He rejoined his unit, in France, on 29 July 1916. On 10 August Fred was promoted to Lance Corporal and then to Second Lieutenant just a month later. After the fighting near Pozieres in August, Fred was recommended for (but did not receive) the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the second highest award for valour.
One of the worst winters in living memory set in soon after and, like many others, Fred succumbed to trench fever and influenza, and was hospitalised for six months. He rejoined the battalion on 23 September 1917 and was promoted to Lieutenant a week later.
The 7th Battalion took part in the successful Battle of Broodseinde Ridge (near Ypres in Belgium) on 4 October. Later that month Fred fell ill again, this time with various throat and skin complaints, and spent another seven weeks in hospital.
In mid-April 1918, the Germans attacked through northern France and Belgium and the 1st Australian Division, including the 7th Battalion, was rushed forward. They helped stem the attack and then undertook aggressive patrolling into the German lines, in which Fred participated.
On 23 August 1918, during the allies’ Amiens offensive, Fred sustained a shrapnel wound to his right elbow in the attack on Chuignes. He was invalided to England and returned to Australia in January 1919.
Fred continued to serve in the Militia until 1933, and he passed away on 26 August 1966, aged 71.
Robert Wight, March 2024
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