Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Fred Dickson was born in Brunswick Victoria in June 1922 the only son of Frederick and Florence Dickson. Frederick Senior had served in the 23rd Battalion of the AIF during the Great War. 

Fred enlisted in the 2/AIF in June 1941, and after training he embarked for the Middle East in September 1941 where he joined the 2/7th Battalion in November of that year.  At the time the battalion was employed on garrison duties in Palestine.

With the entry of Japan into the war the battalion was recalled to Australia, however Winsten Churchill controversially had the 6th Division diverted to Ceylon, against the wishes of the Australian Government.

In June 1942 the battalion was undertraining at Akuressa in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, when a series of accidents occurred during grenade training. The second and more serious would claim the life of Frederick  and Private Bill Underwood.  

The Battalion War Diary records:

“As a sequel to yesterday’s unfortunate episode with the grenade, today provided a whole series of such accidents one of which had very tragic results. After successful practice by D Coy in the morning C. Coy took over the range for the afternoon. During firing of 68 type grenades, one exploded, causing fatal wounds to Ptes F.J. Dickson and W.F. Underwood whilst 5 others were wounded, two rather seriously.”

The casualties included Private John Hally who lost a leg and who passed away a week later, and Private Morrison who suffered severe abdominal injuries, but would ultimately recover.

Bill and Fred were buried the following day in the Galle Cemetery in Southern Sri Lanka, their bodies later reinterred in Colombo.

Reference 2/7th Battalion War Diary AWM.