SWEENEY, Frederick Raymond
| Service Number: | 186 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 February 1915, An original member of A Squadron |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 12th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia, 6 November 1894 |
| Home Town: | Bimbi, Weddin, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Young, New South Wales, Australia, 10 December 1969, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Young Cemetery, Hilltops Council, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Bimbi War Memorial, Grenfell Great War Memorial, Quandialla War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 186, 12th Light Horse Regiment, An original member of A Squadron | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 186, 12th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Vestalia embarkation_ship_number: A44 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 186, 12th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Vestalia, Sydney | |
| 25 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 20 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant, 12th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, 12th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 3 Apr 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 12th Light Horse Regiment |
Help us honour Frederick Raymond Sweeney's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Frederick Raymond Sweeny was known as ‘Ray’ Sweeny to his family and friends. He was the son of John Thomas and Evelyn Sweeny of Bimbi, New South Wales.
His younger brother, 6829 Pte. Abraham Sweeny 7th Battalion AIF also served and was married in England during 1919 before returning to Australia with his new bride.
During early 1915 it was reported in the Young Witness, “Prior to his departure from Bimbi, Trooper Ray Sweeney, was presented with a purse of sovereigns and a gold wristlet watch to remind him when at the front of old friends at Bimbi.
Sweeny was taken on strength of the 1st Light Horse Regiment on Gallipoli from August 1915 and served there until the evacuation. He was then transferred back to the 12th Light Horse Regiment and served at the Gaza and Beersheba battles during 1917. He was promoted to Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant in 1916 and Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant in 1917 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1919. He was discharged in Australia during October 1919.
Frederick Raymond Sweeny opened a store in Bribbaree, New South Wales in 1920. He was an agent for Sunshine machinery, Metters stoves, London and Lancashire Insurance Company, Sulphide Superphosphate and also sold suits to measure, Harmonie pianos and ironmongery. He married in 1922 to Elaine, and they raised four children.
Whilst a resident in Bribbaree he took a keen interest in local sporting and community bodies. At various times he was President of the RSL, and was treasurer for the local hall, tennis club, the Bribbaree Show and the Bribbaree church.
He retired from his Bribbaree shop in 1953 due to ill-health and moved to Young, New South Wales.
Two years before he passed away, in 1967, he applied for the Gallipoli Medallion.
Click images to start slideshow.