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Australia

Frederick was the son of Charles SPARROW & Mary Ann TAYLOR and was born on the 1st of September 1880 in Millicent, SA.

His parents were married in England around 1872.

His father was the son of George SPARROW & Harriet GRIFFIN and was born on the 3rd of July 1848 in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England.
His mother was the daughter of Cartwright Buckle TAYLOR & Lucy TOWNSEND and was born on the 26th of February 1851 in Southrop, Gloucestershire, England.

Frederick was the fifth child born into the family of 8 children.

His parents and younger siblings embarked for South Australia from Plymouth on the 12th of October 1877 on board the Scottish Lassie.
Sadly little Emily died at sea on the 11th of November 1877 before they arrived in Pt Adelaide on the 10th of January 1878.

They had then moved to Millicent where his father became a farmer.

Frederick attended the Millicent School on the 16th of October 1887 and was then transferred to the Mt Muirhead School in October 1890, but the following year he was back at the Millicent School.

Frederick was only 15 years old when his mother died on the 13th of May 1895 in the Mt Gambier Hospital and they buried her in the Millicent Cemetery.

The following year his father died on the 26th of October 1896 in the Mt Gambier Hospital from a lung infection and they buried him with their mother.

After leaving school Frederick became a labourer.

Frederick married Martha FENSOM on the 22nd of June 1904 in Millicent, SA.
Martha was 4 months pregnant when they married.
Martha was the daughter of George Henry FENSOM & Martha HAND and was born on the 11th of February 1897 in Athelstone, SA.

They welcomed their only child; Victor Frederick, on the 9th of November 1904 in Millicent, before they moved to Penola in 1906.

At the age of 36, Frederick enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 22nd of March 1916 in Mt Gambier and was allotted the service number 1709 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion. He was then transferred as a 1st Reinforcement to the newly raised 43rd Battalion on the 18th of April at Morphettville Camp.

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916.
He served in France for 2 years and was wounded and then embarked from England on the 18th of January 1919 on board HT Margha, disembarking in Adelaide on the 28th of February.

He returned home to Penola and took up farming at Mount Murihead.

Frederick was discharged from the AIF on the 14th of February 1921.

In early 1934 he retired and the family moved to Robe.
In 1934 the Coonawarra RSL Sub-Branch gifted a walking stick to Frederick.

In 1937 they bought an allotment in Penola and built a home at 6 Young Street, where they lived for 11 years.

Sadly, Martha died on the 28th of August 1945 and Frederick buried her in the Penola Cemetery; Section C, Plot 110.

After Martha’s death, Frederick sold their home and purchased another home back in Millicent.
He then married Mary Elizabeth MCINTYRE nee HUNT.

Mary died on the 4th of March 1954 and Frederick buried her in the Millicent Cemetery; Section C, Plot 65, with her 1st husband, James.

Frederick sold his home in Millicent in 1958 and appears to have moved to Port MacDonnell.

Frederick died in Port MacDonnell on the 1st of November 1960 and was buried 2 days later in the Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mt Gambier; Section I, Plot 63.

Military

At the age of 36, Frederick enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 22nd of March 1916 in Mt Gambier and was allotted the service number 1709 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his wife, of Penola, as his next of kin.

He was then transferred as a 1st Reinforcement to the newly raised 43rd Battalion on the 18th of April at Morphettville Camp.

The Battalion consisted of men who had but recently enlisted, and were practically raw recruits, most of whom had joined up in January and February.

Early in April musketry was commenced throughout the Battalion with each section forming a separate squad and undergoing ten days progressive instruction in the art of handling the rifle, the course being completed by the firing of an application and grouping practice on the miniature range in the dry bed of the Sturt River.
An open range was prepared in the sand hills between Glenelg and Henley, where for two days portions of the Battalion were engaged with the service rifle; but the working of these targets proved so slow and tedious that arrangements were made to secure the use of the butts at Port Adelaide, special trains conveying the troops to and from this place. Two complete days firing was given to each company, during which grouping, application, snap shooting, and rapid practices at 100, 200, and 300 yards were completed.
Frederick gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

The Battalion attended a number of functions and ceremonies, chief among which were the presentation of colours at Glenelg, the Military Tattoo on the Jubilee Oval, and the farewell dinner provided in the Exhibition Building by the Cheer-up Society; while occasional trips to the theatre were arranged, special trains usually being provided for the conveyance of the Unit to and from Morphettville. A certain amount of amusement was supplied within the camp on several occasions by concert parties.

During the whole period of training, equipment and clothing were gradually issued and they were fitted out for departure, signing for every article received and having numerous inspections to ascertain what shortages existed. The health of the men also received continuous attention, vaccination and two inoculations being administered in the early days, while dental inspections and subsequent treatment rectified any defects of the mouth.

The first week of June was spent in final preparations to embark on the 9th of June, the quartermasters and clerical departments being the most busily engaged. A final pay was drawn and as much leave as possible granted and by the 8th all preparations for embarkation had been completed, and the transport section had left for the Outer Harbour.

Dawn of June 9th was breaking behind the Mount Lofty Ranges when reveille sounded, rousing the whole camp to the activities of final preparations for departure, including the handing in of camp equipment and stores.

At 9.40 a.m. the first train, bearing Headquarters and A and B Companies, left Morphettville Station followed half-an-hour later by a second train with the remainder of the Battalion.
On reaching Port Adelaide the train proceeded by the old route down St. Vincent Street, where a large and enthusiastic crowd assembled to bid farewell to the unit. An hour later the Outer Harbour was reached and there followed a rapid embarkation on board their transport, HMAT A19 Afric.

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and he now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

The journey through The Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70 per cent of the men. Land was first sighted at daybreak of the 13th of June and after passing through King George Sound they anchored in Albany Harbour at 11.30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The next day the boat drew alongside the wharf, and all were allowed ashore for a few hours.
At noon the same day the journey was resumed and soon the shores of Frederick’s homeland receded from view.
That night it was learnt that the next port of call would be Colombo. As the result of a long period of calm weather that followed the departure from Albany, it was possible to conduct training, consisting of musketry, physical exercises, bayonet fighting, and boat drill, limited in extent by the small area of deck space available.

As the tropics were approached, permission to sleep on deck was granted, and a large majority, including Frederick availed themselves of the privilege. By day a minimum amount of clothing was worn, the heavier uniform being abandoned for the lighter and more comfortable suit of dungarees.

Early on the morning of June 26th the island of Ceylon was sighted and by 10 a.m. the transport anchored in the harbour of Colombo. Coal barges were soon drawn along side the boat and coaling operations, conducted by the natives, commenced.
That afternoon they were taken ashore on lighters and marched to the military barracks in Colombo. There a wet canteen was placed at the disposal of the troops and native vendors of views, fruit, etc., offered their goods. As this was the first opportunity for some weeks of purchasing articles from other than the ship's canteen a brisk business resulted.

The following day the journey resumed at 3.45 p.m.
The voyage to Suez differed very little from the previous fortnight, except that during the four days in the Red Sea extreme heat was experienced, causing exhaustion to several of the stokers, whose work was undertaken for two days by volunteers from the troops.
By noon of July 11th Suez was reached and all preparations for disembarkation were completed.

Orders were, however, received from the military authorities that the journey was to be continued through the Mediterranean and at 4 pm an entrance was made into the Canal, the interesting surroundings of which attracted attention for sixteen hours. Along the bank were encamped Australian and English troops, who formed a portion of the Canal Garrison. An opportunity to converse with some of these was afforded by the boat being delayed for an hour at Ismalia.

By 8.30 am on the 12th the Canal was cleared and entry made into Port Said, where a transport conveying English troops southward was passed. Natives were again employed in coaling, which caused much inconvenience to those on board, as no leave ashore was granted. Numerous hawkers in small dinghies visited the boat, but not being allowed on deck were obliged to transact their sales by means of rope and basket.
Here an A 4.7 naval gun was mounted aft and manned by Royal Navy gunners and on departure at 2pm on the 13th, H.M. destroyer "Telmar," which had seen service with the Australians on Gallipoli, acted as their escort. These protective measures against submarines were augmented by the pre cautions of constant changes of course, screening of lights, and increase of sentries, whose duty was the outlook for enemy craft.

On passing Malta, the "Telmar" was relieved by a larger destroyer, but before departing semaphored "Australians, good-bye and good luck," on receipt of which cheers were interchanged between transport and escort. Daily routine on board continued until Marseilles was approached on the evening of July 19th, when at 10 pm the pilot was taken aboard, but the harbour was not entered until eight o'clock the next morning. This ended a six weeks successful journey on the "Afric".

At 3 pm on July 20th they disembarked and moved to Arran-Point Station, where they immediately entrained and at 5.35 pm left for Havre.
The journey through Southern France was most interesting, new types of villages, cultivation, and railway organisation being introduced. The scenery, especially that of the Rhone Valley, was superb, and the bright mid summer day showed the surroundings at their best.

A halt was made near Avignon, where hot tea and rations were issued, and on resumption of the journey the troops quickly settled down for the night. At 8 am on the 21st the train passed through Lyons, and at 3.45 pm Dijon was reached, and the French Red Cross workers served tea and cake to the Battalion.
Breakfast next morning was partaken of thirteen miles from Paris, Juvisy, from which, after a halt of two hours, the journey continued through Versailles, along the Seine Valley to Nantes, where a break was made for another meal, thence to Rouen and Havre.
Here the Battalion detrained and marched to a Rest Camp, where most of the men spent a cold night on cobbles. The following afternoon embarkation for England took place, and at dusk the Channel transport commenced its six-hour journey, reaching Southampton at daybreak and they disembarked at 7.30 am.
After two hours waiting on the wharf they were entrained for Amesbury Station on Salisbury Plain, where the Battalion detrained. An hour later Lark Hill was reached and the whole afternoon devoted to settling down in No.12 Camp. This was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to its departure for the front.
The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty of similar design located at Lark Hill, most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a complete battalion.

They spent the next few months here in training and then on the 9th of September Frederick proceeded overseas to France to join the 27th Battalion, A Company.
He marched into the 2nd Division Base Depot in Etaples 2 days later and then on the 2nd of December joined the 27th Battalion, who were resting in billets in St Vast.

On the 18th of December they marched out to Vignacourt to entrain for Buire and during the march Frederick was found smoking in the line and was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No.2.
They marched out of Buire on the 22nd and after 3 hours they arrived in Fricourt where they were accommodated in huts. After 2 days they moved out to Melbourne Camp at Montauban where they were accommodated in Nissen huts.

Here the mud was extremely bad and Christmas Day 1916 was bitterly cold and wet.
On Christmas Day they carried out fatigue duties in the forward areas, their Christmas dinner consisting of tea “straight” bully and biscuits.

Although the intensely cold weather continued the recently captured and devastated area was rapidly cleared and a reserve camp soon sprang into existence, the Nissen huts proving a boon to the units moving to and from the front line.

On the New Years Day 1917 Frederick was found guilty of using obscene language towards his superior officer and was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.2.

Seven days later they relieved the 18th Battalion in supports (Needle Trench) in the Gueudecourt sector and the following day they moved into the front line (Rose Trench) and forward posts to relieve the 19th Battalion

No advance was attempted, but many improvements were effected, especially in strengthening and linking up the forward posts.
Quite a salvage campaign was commenced in the support lines, all the old rifles and web equipment being conveyed to a dump in the rear.

They were relieved by the 28th Battalion on the 12th of January and after moving back to Delville Wood they supplied further fatigue parties to continue the re-construction of the Brigade front line system and dugouts in rear.
The whole area was one huge network of duck-board tracks broken here and there by direct hits by enemy shells.

Three days later they were relieved by the 5th Brigade and marched to Montauban quarries, entrained to Meaulte, then marched to Dernancourt and billeted there for the night, then moved to Buire-sur-Ancre, the following day.
From January 16th to the 28th the time was spent in training in all methods of tactical warfare, practicing also the French methods of assault.
During this period their companies were reorganized and the 7th Brigade moved to Mametz, where Frederick and his Battalion billeting in huts near Mametz Wood.

It was here on the 31st of January that Frederick suffered from Scabies and was admitted into the 4th Australian Field Ambulance before being transferred to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station at Edgehill.
Three days later, he began severely coughing and vomiting and was transferred to the 5th Dressing Station and then onto the 36th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly.

After 4 days here he was transferred by the 5th Ambulance Train to the 12th General Hospital in Rouen and diagnosed with Bronchitis. Frederick spent a week here before being discharged to No.2 Convalescent Depot on the 17th of February.
On the 11th of March he was invalided to England and admitted into the 2nd London General Hospital.
After a further 2 weeks here he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 23rd of March and whilst here, on the 7th of April, he was found guilty of irregular conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and detained for 14 days.

Frederick was discharged from hospital on the 15th of June to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and then transferred to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott, before being posted to the Overseas Training Battalion in Longbridge Deverill, on the 3rd of July.
He remained here until the 20th of March 1918 when he proceeded to France and rejoined his Battalion on the 25th in No.1 Camp, Kortepyp.

On the 30th and 31st there was a marked increase in enemy aerial and artillery activity on their sector, presumably owing to the extension of the enemy’s attack to the North of Arras.
By the 6th of April they had moved to Corbie and then marched, via Franvillers, to Baizieux, and bivouacked in an orchard on the Western edge of the village.
They then spent the rest of the month in and out of the front line before moving to Amiens on the 1st of May.

On May 19th they moved forward as supports to the 6th Brigade and relieve the 22nd Battalion during its attack on Ville-Sur-Ancre.
The following day the attack on Ville-Sur-Ancre was launched. The operation was a complete success and casualties were exceedingly light considering the capture of 200 prisoners, which included three Officers and numerous machine guns.

During the next two days several prisoners were discovered hiding in cellars in the ruins of Ville-Sur-Ancre, which, together with Buire, was subjected to heavy gas shelling by the enemy.
It was here on the 26th of May that Frederick suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his right forearm and a severe compound fracture and was admitted into the 61st Casualty Clearing Station at Vignacourt.
The following day he was transferred to the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Etaples and then invalided to England and admitted into the Fulham Military Hospital in London.

He remained here for 4 weeks before being transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary in Harefield.
On the 20th of July Frederick was discharged to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott and then transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth on the 21st of August.
Frederick was here when the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918.

He spent his last Christmas away from his family and friends and then embarked from England on the 18th of January 1919 on board HT Margha, disembarking in Adelaide on the 28th of February.

Frederick was discharged from the AIF on the 14th of February 1921 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.