WARD, Frederick Ernest Charles
| Service Number: | 24049 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 February 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Able Seaman |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Sydney (II) - D48 WW2 |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, 15 April 1919 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Indian Ocean, 20 November 1941, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Carlisle Harold Hawthorne Centre Memorial Plaques, Carnarvon HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Carnarvon Walk of Remembrance, Geraldton HMAS Sydney II Honour Roll, Geraldton HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Mosman Bradleys Head HMAS Sydney Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Able Seaman, 24049, HMAS Sydney (II) - D48 WW2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, 24049 |
Help us honour Frederick Ernest Charles Ward's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Fred was the eldest of three children of Leslie (Les) St Clair Ward (b1900 in Perth WA) and Sophia (Sis) Louisa May Otway (b1898 in Beverley WA). Les (a Teamster) and Sis married in 1919 in Perth WA and lived in Kelmscott WA where Les worked as a Labourer until their divorce in 1930. Les served in WWI (Trooper; Service No:3377) and WWII (Private; Service No:NX26031).
Fred was working as a Farm Labourer in Guildford WA when he enlisted in the RAN on 16 February 1940 as an Ordinary Seaman (Service No:24049) on HMAS Cerberus. He was an Able Seaman on board the HMAS Sydney III and was KiA on 20 November 141 when the Sydney was sunk by the German cruiser Cormoran off the coast of Geraldton WA - 645 men perished with the Sydney. Fred's brother Keith (Service No:23367) also served in the RAN in WWII.
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