TOWNSEND, Fred
| Service Number: | 1220 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 September 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Mount Torrens, South Australia, 15 November 1888 |
| Home Town: | Lameroo, Southern Mallee, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 31 August 1916, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lameroo Memorial Window |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1220, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1220, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 30 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1220, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1220 awm_unit: 16 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-08-30 |
Fred Townsend
Name: Fred Townsend
Service Number: 1220
Place of Birth: Mount Torrens
Date of Birth: 15 November 1888
Place of Enlistment: Morphettville
Date of Enlistment: 16 September 1914
Age at Enlistment: 25 years 10 months
Next of Kin: Mother, Mary Townsend
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Private
Fred Townsend left Melbourne with his unit on board HMAT A 40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914. He fought at Gallipoli where he was wounded in the foot on 29 April 1915 and suffered a second wounding with a gunshot wound to his right hand on 8 May. After treatment Fred was passed as “fit for duty” on 23 May.
In July 1915 Fred was promoted to Lance Corporal. A month later, after reporting sick at Gallipoli, he was diagnosed as having cardiac disease. Fred received treatment on board the H.S. Saxon at Heliopolis, Cairo on 23 September and rejoined his unit, the 16th Battalion on 23 October.
Corporal Fred Townsend joined his unit at Marsailles in France on 9 June 1916. Two months later he was killed in action on 30 August. His mother Mary Townsend received her son’s personal effects on 4 May 1918. They comprised knee pads, two scarves, bible, 2 books and a note book. She also received a Memorial Scroll, Certificate for Mention in Despatches, a Memorial Plaque and a Victory Medal between July 1921 and September 1922.
Army Base Records Melbourne, wrote to Mary Townsend in 1937 informing her that the grave of an unknown soldier was found at a point north-west of Pozieres in France. Upon the remains being exhumed and reverently reburied, her son’s identity disc was found and it was established that the site was that of her son’s burial. Fred Townsend’s identity disc was sent to his mother in Gladstone on September 14 1937. Mary had been granted a fortnightly pension of two pounds, twelve shillings and three pence from 30 October 1916.
Submitted 25 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography
"LATE CPL. F. TOWNSEND.
Cpl. F. Townsend, who was killed in action on August 30, 1916, was born at Mount Torrens on November 15, 1888. Prior to enlisting he was engaged in farming in the Lameroo district. The deceased soldier took a keen interest in all church matters, and was for some time a Sunday school superintendent. He served through the Gallipoli campaign, where he was twice wounded, and was one of the few bandsmen who played farewell to Anzac on December 18. He eventually proceeded to France with his battalion. The deceased was of a genial disposition, and had many friends." - from the Adelaide Observer 14 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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