Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick was the illigetimate son of Frederick Charles BACON & Annie WHITE and was born on the 20th of January 1896 in Melrose, SA.

His father was the son of Henry BACON & Elizabeth BISHOP and was born on the 16th of October 1875 in Melrose, SA.

At the age of 7 months, Frederick was placed in the care of the State Children’s Department and sentenced until he turned 18 years old.

On the 7th of August 1896 he was placed with Mrs Ann BAILEY of Yankalilla and he attended the Yankalilla Primary School from June 1903.

On the 29th of November 1905 he was recalled by the state as the home was unsuitable.

He was then placed with Mr John ROBERTS, an engine cleaner of Quorn on the 18th of December 1905 where he attended the Quorn Primary School. He was returned to the state on the 20th of June 1906 due to misconduct.

On the 23rd of August 1906 he was placed with Miss Elizabeth RHIND of section 2923, Hundred of Macclesfield, Bugle Ranges where he attended the Bugle Ranges Primary School. He was only here for 5 months and again was returned due to misconduct.

On the 25th of January 1907 he was placed with Henry & Milly VOGEL, of Longwood and attended the Aldgate Primary School. Within 2 months he was returned due to misconduct and this time was placed into the Eden Park, Salvation Army Reformatory School in Wistow.

Frederick became a labourer.

At the age of 19, Frederick enlisted into the AIF on the 27th of January 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 234 and posted to Base Depot Infantry.

On the 16th of March he was transferred to the 27th Battalion, A Company at Oaklands Camp.

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A2 Geelong on the 31st of May 1915.

He served in Gallipoli and then in France for nearly 3 years before he finally returned to Australia on the 28th of March 1919 on board HMAT Pt Macquarie, disembarking in Adelaide on the 21st of May and was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of July.

Frederick moved to Victor Harbor and lived at McKinlay Street and was a caretaker. He was a prominent athlete in his younger days, and after playing football for the local team for some years he took up goal & field umpiring and his services were much sought after in the district.

He donated many trophies to the Victor Club.

He was also a staunch member of the local sub branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A.

With the outbreak of WW2, aged 46, Frederick enlisted into the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), Victor Harbor, and was called up for full time duty on the 30th of December 1941 and was allotted the service number S56391.

He attended many courses and was detached to the Broken Hill Detached Company for 12 weeks and later the 9th Battalion at Mt Gambier.

Frederick was discharged on the 7th of September 1944.

Frederick never married.

In May 1956 he was admitted into the Martin Ward in the Royal Adelaide Hospital as he was very sick and spent several weeks in the hospital.

Frederick died in his sleep on the 20th of September 1960 in Victor Harbor and was buried the following day in the A.I.F. section of the Victor Harbour Cemetery; Row 6, Plot 10.

Military WW1

At the age of 19, Frederick enlisted into the AIF on the 27th of January 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 234 and posted to Base Depot Infantry.

He listed Mrs COULTER of Osmond Place, Glen Osmond, as his next of kin.

On the 16th of March he was transferred to the newly raised 27th Battalion, A Company at Oaklands Camp.

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A2 Geelong on the 31st of May 1915, disembarking in Alexandria on the 6th of July.

They then undertook further training and landed at Gallipoli on the 12th of September.

At Gallipoli, the 7th Brigade, which included the 27th Battalion, reinforced the weary New Zealand and Australian Division. The 27th had a relatively quiet time at Gallipoli and the battalion departed the peninsula for Egypt in December, having suffered only light casualties.

They then proceeded to France as part of the 2nd Australian Division on the 18th of March 1916, disembarking the following day in Marseilles.

They entered the front-line trenches for the first time on the 7th of April 1916 and took part in their first major battle at Pozieres between the 28th of July and 5th of August.

After a spell in a quieter sector of the front in Belgium, the 2nd Division returned to the south in October. Frederick and the 27th Battalion took part in two attacks to the east of Flers in the Somme Valley, both of which floundered in the mud.

On the 1st of November, Frederick was appointed to the transport section of the 27th Battalion with the rank of Driver.

They spent half of December at billets in St Vast before being entrained to Fricourt, They moved into Melbourne Camp at Montauban on the 24th of December and a bitterly cold Christmas Day was spent here in the mud.

In January 1917, they moved into the Le Sars sector where they took over from British units that were holding the line near Mametz.
Offensive operations during this time were largely curtailed by bad weather, but on the 2nd of March they launched a combined attack north of Warlencourt. The initial assault yielded some ground, but the Germans completed a successful outflanking move on the left, which threatened to take the momentum out of the attack. As reinforcements were brought up, the 27th Battalion linked up with the 26th Battalion on its left flank near the Loupart Road and, under the cover of mist, managed to establish a new trench line 500 yards (460 m) long and captured a number of prisoners.

Frederick and his Battalions next engagement came on the 26th of March 1917 when they undertook an attack on Lagnicourt, during which they lost 11 killed and 29 wounded.
They then marched onto Bapaume Road, Pozieres and whilst here Frederick became ill with Influenza & Bronchitis and was admitted into the 6th Australian Field Ambulance at Fricourt Farm on the 8th of April and then transferred to the 7th Australian Field Ambulance at Becordel.

Four days later he was transferred to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance at Millencourt and on the 21st he was transferred to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station at “Edgehill”, near Dernancourt.

On the 23rd he was transferred by Ambulance Train and admitted into the 5th General Hospital in Rouen.

Three days later he embarked for England and admitted into the Eastleigh Military Hospital on the 27th.

He remained here for 4 weeks and was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 28th of May.

Frederick was discharged from here on the 18th of June and granted 2 weeks leave.

He then reported to No.4 Command Depot on the 2nd of July at Codford, but by the end of July was admitted to hospital again for another week.

On the 22nd of September he was posted to the overseas Training Brigade in Perham Downs in preparation for returning to France.

Whilst he was here the Training Brigade was relocated to Sand Hill Camp, Longbridge Deverill, near Sutton Veny.

Frederick proceeded to France again, on the 2nd of November and rejoined his Battalion six days later, who were at billets in Berteaucourt. 

Whilst here the Armistice was signed and two days later Frederick was granted extended leave in England and on his return he reported to the AIF Headquarters in France.

On the 21st of January 1919 he embarked from England and marched into No.4 Command Depot at Hurdcott awaiting embarkation back to Australia

Frederick returned to Australia on the 28th of March 1919 on board HMAT Pt Macquarie, disembarking in Adelaide on the 21st of May and was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of July.

Military WW2

With the outbreak of WW2, aged 46, Frederick enlisted into the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), Victor Harbor, and was called up for full time duty on the 30th of December 1941 and was allotted the service number S56391.

He attended a Snipers Course at Victoria Park in April 1943 and was transferred to the 5th Battalion VDC on the 1st of May.

He was transferred to the Independent Cadre Company on the 3rd of June and then attended an Infantry Course at Victoria Park and a Mortar Course in July.

In September he attended an Infantry & Weapons Course and in October he attended a Vickers Machine Gun Course.

He was detached to the Broken Hill Detached Company on the 2nd of November 1943 and on the 20th of January 1944 he attended a course in Wagga for 4 weeks and on his return he was transferred to 9 Battalion in Mt Gambier.

He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on the 3rd of June 1944 and then in September he was transferred back to Adelaide for disposal.

Frederick was discharged on the 7th of September 1944.