Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick, born on the 18th March 1907 at Dublin on the Adelaide Plains of South Australia, was the first son of Henry Charles and Marie Pauline Chandler. He had a younger brother, William (Bill) with the family living at Booleroo Centre in the southern Flinders Ranges, a strong farming area for both grain and sheep. In his early years, Fred played a useful game on the wing for the Wallaroo football team and also played tennis for Wallaroo.
Post school, Fred gained employment as a saddler, a skill that would later be utilised when he enlisted.
With the outbreak of WWII, the response from local young men wanting to enlist to serve was huge. At the nearby Port Pirie Recruiting Depot in June ’40, over 17 days, twenty-eight men applied to enlist in the Second Australian Imperial Force. The local Recorder newspaper suggested that ‘Ever since the invasion of the Low Countries by Germany the rate of application at the depot has been quickened.’ One of the early enlistees who passed the preliminary medical examination before heading to Wayville for the final test was 33-year-old Fred. He joined others from nearby towns of Peterborough, Solomontown, Whyalla, Crystal Brook, Beetaloo Valley, Port Augusta and Booleroo Centre in applying. Fred was given the number SX9404 and initially placed in the 2/2 Company.

The Booleroo Patriotic Committee organised a farewell social for Private Fred Chandler in December ’40 with a huge crowd attending, testament to the high regard in which he was held. Several speeches were made, including from the Lutheran Church where Fred was an active member. Fred was presented with a parcel of comforts from the local Red Cross and Fighting Forces. In response, Fred thanked everyone for their kindness and generosity, before dancing and supper were enjoyed.

By February ’41 Fred sailed for the Middle East, arriving at the end of March. By the end of that year, Fred was using his skills as a saddler for the essential work of bootmaker, being graded as a Group III in this field. During this time, Fred was involved in the fierce fighting for the strategic Tobruk, becoming one of the highly respected Rats of Tobruk. The term evolved following a taunt by the Germans that the men were living like rats in their dusty, rat and fly infested underground dugout. Designed to sap the morale, the term had the opposite effect, with the soldiers proudly owning the title.

Back in Australia at last on leave in May ’43, Fred immediately returned home to visit before then returning to Adelaide to again train, this time in Queensland to prepare for the humid conditions he would experience in New Guinea.
Fred’s final year of army service, ‘45 was marked by ill health, including problems with his nose, gastric problems and dyspepsia before his final discharge in October.

Having served overseas for two years, on his return Private Frederick Chandler married Emily Jane Ella Agnew in March ’45 in the Curramulka Methodist Church. Fred chose L.C.P.L. Hand and SX18796 Pte. Gordon Pointon as his attendants. Ella was given a presentation by Rev. Albury on behalf of the choir, Sunday school, and Band of Hope with whom she had been involved, with best wishes for her future.
Fred’s father lived to see his son return safely home and marry Ella. Henry died in the Booleroo Centre Hospital at the end of July ’54, aged 81.
Aged 71 Fred died on the 7th November 1978 and was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, plot DY 135. His headstone carries the poignant inscription ‘Dearly loved and sadly missed by his wife Ella’. Ella died almost a decade later in February ’88. She now also rests in the same cemetery, General DY136.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion