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Frederick (Fred) was the oldest of two sons born to Frank John and Annie Victoria (nee Parker) Wooldridge on the 12th August, 1918 at Blyth, a small mid-north town in the Clare Valley of S.A. The young couple lived in the nearby town of Brinkworth and were excited at the arrival of Fred’s brother, Allan Frank on the 14th March 1920, born in the same hospital. Distressingly, 28-year-old Annie died a fortnight later of complications whilst still in hospital, on the 27th.
With two infant sons to care for, Frank soon married Florence Amelia Parker, Annie’s sister, on the 20th July ’21 in the same Brinkworth Methodist Church. By March ’25, Frank and Florence had a son, Ronald George, born at Snowtown.
As a nine-year-old, Fred proved to be quite an athlete during the Hart School Picnic celebrations. Organized by the School Committee, there were many activities for students and adults with the proceeds going towards the school piano fund. Fred was successful in the Under 11 boy’s race, as well as coming second in the Boy’s Sheffield and the backwards races. His father Frank also managed to run second in the Old Buffer’s race. Two years later Fred repeated his successes and added a win in the Consolation Race with his young brother, Alan.
By March ’39, Fred was farewelled from Hart with a presentation in the Hart Hall prior to taking up work as a labourer in Yacka. Soon after, with the outbreak of WWII, a concerted effort was made to encouraged fit, healthy, single young men to enlist. Army representatives visited country areas and gained many signatures including 21-year-old Fred’s on the 24th June ’40. He was given the number SX6880 and allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. He was initially housed in the Motor Pavilion of what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where his ‘bed’ was straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The young men were later given kitbags on which their names were stencilled. Their battalion then headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training.
The following month in July, Fred’s younger brother, Alan who was training as a student teacher, also enlisted as Private S30914 at Unley. By May ’42 he had joined the Air Force as Flight Lieutenant 285648.
Fred and Harlene Hope Molsher announced their engagement on the 7th November ‘40 prior to Fred heading overseas on the Stratheden for the Middle East, arriving on the 19th December 1940. ‘MOLSHER—WOOLDRIDGE.—The engagement is announced of Harlene H., the younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Molsher, of Prospect, to Private Frederick J. (2nd/48th Batt, A.I.F.), eldest son of Mr. F. J. Wooldridge, of Forestville, and the late Mrs. A. B. Wooldridge, of Brinkworth.’
Conditions in the army were quite different to those at home, with Fred, almost immediately after arriving, contracting mumps, and consequently spending time in hospital during December, finally being discharged early in January ’41. Once back with his battalion, the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, they were soon on their way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to the men who were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Within six months, Fred was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left chest early in July ’41, spending several months recovering. At the time the 2/48th Battalion relieved the 2/1st Pioneer Battalion in the Salient. In Tobruk to Tarakan, John Glenn describes how the men were ‘continually harassed by enemy artillery, mortars and machine guns, so that movement by day was absolutely impossible. He described how the night patrols would crawl forward in search of mines and booby traps. ‘The traps that were dreaded most was the “jumping jack” mine, with its three prongs protruding from the sand waiting for a victim to touch a prong, whereupon a primary charge would shoot a 9 lb mine with all its shrapnel to about chest high before it burst.’
Back home, the July edition of the Chronicle reported Fred’s wounding, as was SX8224 Private Harold Smith, from Loxton and also in the 2/48th, who was placed on the seriously ill list.
Fred was finally able to re-join his battalion in November ’41. The following year was to be challenging for the 2/48th. Orders had been received to capture West Point of Tel el Eisa in a dawn attack. In late June ‘42 with Rommel crossing into Egypt, the 2/48th were in an offensive to capture Trig 33, which was achieved on the 10th July. In doing so, over 400 Italian prisoners were taken. The 2/48th Battalion then advanced south, capturing the Tel el Eisa station and repelling numerous counter attacks. However, they were eventually forced to withdraw, suffering 215 casualties between the 7th July and 23rd October. Of that number, 64 men were killed and six, died of their wounds. 125 other men were wounded but survived.
Fred was again injured in October that year with a gunshot wound to his head and was extremely fortunate to survive as he fractured his occiput bone at the back of his head. Conditions at that time were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Mongomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward. October ’42 was to be one of the most devastating times for the Battalion. In his book, Tobruk to Tarakan John Glenn described the time. ‘Preparations for action were so complete that there was nothing to do. Troops found there was little else they could think of but the coming battle. Few spoke but all kept looking at their watches. The darkness was rent by flashes from the mouths of over eight hundred guns. The night exploded as no night before had ever done. The desert burst into flame and shattering sound that shook the earth with its fury. Then came the dreadful whispering of thousands of shells rushing by overhead, the shock of explosion as they smashed into the enemy’s guns, men, tanks and communications… The smell of cordite drifted chokingly through the air, then dust billowed up and blotted out the flashing guns.’ It was under these conditions that Fred was wounded.
A list of those wounded appeared in the November issue of the Chronicle including those of six others from Fred’s Battalion. These were Wounded In Action.— SX10318 Cpt. D. Maxwell-Wright. 2/48th Toorak; SX9353 Lt. W. A. Byrne, 2/48th Spalding; SX7743 Pte. L. J. Loveridge, 2/48th, Wallaroo Mines; SX7198 Pte. K. Spears, 2/48th Henley Beach. Dangerously Wounded. — SX11146 Pte M. T. Carter. 2/48th Ngapala; and SX6880 Pte. F. J. Wooldridge 2/48th.
The November issue of the Advertiser also reported that ‘Mr. and Mrs. Stan Wooldridge's nephew, Pte. Fred Wooldridge, has been wounded for the second time. He also is serving in the Middle East.’
Fred spent a further two months recovering, including in a British Hospital. He was able to rejoin the 2/48th as the battalion prepared to leave the Middle East and return to Australia, where he disembarked in Sydney in February ’43. He and Harlene took the opportunity to marry, announcing that ‘MOLSHER—WOOLDRIDGE.—The marriage of Harlene. daughter Mr. and Mrs W. G. Molsher, Prospect, to Frederick J. (A.I.F. ret.), son of Mr F. J. Wooldridge, Forestville, late Mrs. Wooldridge. Prospect Church of Christ, April 22, 7p.m.’
In May that year, Fred was then detached to the Sandy Creek Headquarters, then joined the 16th Australian Field Ambulance for duty. He was then transferred to the Camp Hospital at Loveday in June. With the injuries he had sustained, Fred’s medical classification was re-assessed and inevitably was noted as ‘Post Traumatic Headache’ – perhaps an understatement for the injury he received, but it became the reason that he was later able to be discharged. Soon after, this prognosis, Fred was charged with neglecting to obey orders issued at Loveday over three days in October ’43 – his first and only breach of discipline that earned him a fine of 5/-. That time coincided with Fred and a fellow member of the 2/48th Battalion, SX7238 John (Jack) Todd, placing a poignant tribute in the Advertiser. ‘A token of remembrance to my pals and comrades of the 2/48tn Btn. who fell at El Alamein in Oct, 1942. Lest we for get.—lnserted by Jack Todd and Fred Wooldridge.’
The following year saw Fred spend time in the 34 Australian Camp Hospital at Wayville until July ’44 in preparation for his discharge to live at Loveday where he planned to work as an Orchard hand for the Fewster Family. He and Harlene welcomed four children, Glenn Frederick, born in the Barmera Hospital at Loveday on the 29th October ’44, Beverley Anne arrived on the 20th June ‘46, then Janice and Peter.
Fred’s brother, Alan also survived the war and was discharged in February ’46.
Aged 86, Fred died on Remembrance Day, 11th November2004. He is buried at the Loxton Cemetery. Halene died in 2010.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.