Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Fred Ruth
Service Number: 6186
Place of Birth: Cudlee Creek
Date of Birth: not available
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 27 September 1916
Age at Enlistment: 23 years 7 months
Next of Kin: Mother, Adelaide Ruth
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private
Fred left Adelaide with the 27th Battalion on board HMAT A 19 Afric on 7 November 1916. His unit proceeded from Southampton to France on 22 May 1917. He sustained a shrapnel wound to the face and jaw in action on 20 September and received extensive treatment in Belgium and France prior to rejoining his regiment at Havre on27 April 1918. Fred transferred to England after serving with the Australian Veterinary Hospital and the Employ Company in France. He returned to Australia on the Orca on 19 February 1919 and was discharged on 5 June. Marg Wills of Lyndoch said Fred, her great uncle, suffered physically and psychologically after the war due to the facial disfigurement sustained in Belgium. He isolated himself in Western Australia but is known to have married a nurse. The Ruth family in South Australia lost touch with Fred.