Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick William Mathieson, known as “Dosser”, was born in 1896 at Richmond VIC, the 3rd son of 6 children born to his parents Peter and Charlotte Mathieson.  His older siblings were Alfred, known as Alf, and Norman with younger siblings Charles, Clarence, known as Charlie, and one other.  He was educated at Cremorne Street School in Richmond VIC and excelled in swimming, boxing and football while at school winning a hoard of medals and trophies.  After completing his education he worked as a maltster.   

On 12th July 1915 Fred enlisted for WW1 in the AIF at Melbourne aged 19 years and 9 months.  Just 4 days later his younger brother Charlie enlisted on 16th July aged 15 but gave his age as 18.  The eldest brother Alf had enlisted on 22nd February 1915 with the 23rd Infantry Brigade and was already in Egypt training for service at Gallipoli.  Both Fred and Charlie were assigned to the 7th Infantry Battalion 10th Reinforcements and proceeded to Broadmeadows Camp.

Fred is described as being 5ft 5ins tall with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.  His service number was 3085 and his rank Private.  After completing their training Fred and Charlie embarked from Melbourne on 29th September 1915 on HMAT Osterley and disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 25th October 1915 then proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp.

On 1st February 1916 the Battalion moved to Serapeum Camp and that same day Fred was promoted to Lance Corporal but 6 days later he reverted to Private.  On 24th February 1916 both Fred and Charlie transferred to the 59th Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir Camp then on 15th March they both transferred to the 60th Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir Camp.  In late March 1916 the 60th Battalion moved to Mahsama, Moascar Camp and finally to Ferry Post Camp.  On the 15th April the Battalion moved to Duntroon Plateau to assist in the defence of the Suez Canal.  Fred was promoted to Corporal on 18th April and 2 days later his brother Alf arrived to join them having transferred to the 60th Battalion from the 23rd Battalion.  A month later the Battalion moved to Ferry Post Camp then to Moascar Camp in early June.  On 17th June the Battalion proceeded to Alexandria where they embarked for France the next day on HMT Kinfauns Castle.  They disembarked at Marseilles, France, on 29th June and made their way north by train arriving at Rouge-de-Bout on 11th July.  A week later they moved into the frontline trenches and took part in the Battle of Fleubaix at Fromelles on 19th July 1916.  This was a day that changed all their lives forever.  By the end of the day Fred and Alf were wounded and Charlie was initially reported as missing but that was later changed to killed in action.  He was just 16. 

Alf sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm that fractured his humerus and a bullet wound to his right leg.  He was evacuated to England then invalided to Australia on 18th October 1917 and discharged from the service in April 1918. 

Fred sustained a gunshot wound to the scalp and was evacuated to England where he was admitted to Kingswood Park VAD hospital at Tunbridge Wells, Kent.  After convalescing he proceeded in late September 1916 to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs Camp on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire then a week later proceeded to the 15th Training Battalion at Codford Camp.  He embarked for France from Southampton on 11th November 1916 on HMT Golden Eagle and disembarked at Etaples, France, the next day.  He then proceeded to the Australian General Base Depot in Etaples and rejoined the 60th Battalion at Fricourt on 14th January 1917. 

Fred was promoted to Sergeant on 19th February 1917.  In late September 1917 he was admitted to the 8th Field Ambulance with VD and evacuated by hospital train to Boulogne where he was admitted to the 7th Convalescent Depot.  He was then transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Le Havre.  Two months later he proceeded to the Base Depot at Le Havre then rejoined the 60th Battalion at Beussent, NE of Etaples, on 26th December 1917.  Fred’s father died on 25th September 1917 while Fred was convalescing in hospital in France. 

In late January 1918 Fred was detached for duty to the 15th Training Battalion at Codford Camp UK.  He arrived there in early February and at the end of the month proceeded to the Bombing School at Lyndhurst near Southampton.  He then proceeded to do a PT & BF Course at Devonport in late March 1918 before returning to Codford Camp.  In mid-April 1918 he was posted to the 14th Training Battalion at Codford Camp then a few days later proceeded to No. 2 Command Depot at Monte Video Camp, Weymouth.  Due to an old injury, a dislocated shoulder, he embarked from England for return to Australia on 29th August 1918.  He disembarked at Melbourne on 11th October 1918 and was discharged from the service on 26th October 1918. 

After the war his brother Alf became a lift attendant and in 1938 he married Maie Seymour.  They welcomed a daughter named Venita.  Alf died in 1961 aged 68.

Charlie is commemorated on panel 21 of the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial at Fromelles, France.  The cemetery contains the graves of 410 Australian soldiers who died in the Battle of Fleubaix at Fromelles.  Their bodies were found on the battlefield but not a single one could be identified so the decision was made to not mark individual graves but to record their names on a memorial.  The cemetery is situated in what was no-man’s land between the Australian and German lines in 1916 so they have been buried where they fell.

All 3 brothers served in the 60th Battalion D Company.  In 1918 the Richmond Guardian newspaper reported that 100+ Richmond men were in this one company. 

After the war Fred worked as a carpenter and in 1919 he married Violet May Beckinsale.  They welcomed 3 children…Clarence, Laura and Raymond. 

Fred passed away on 24th May 1935 at Caulfield VIC aged 38 and was buried at the Brighton General Cemetery, Caulfield South VIC.

Frederick William Mathieson was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 24th October 2023.

Sources

 “The Lost Boys” written by Paul Byrnes (Book)