Frederick Ernest HOLPEN

Frederick Ernest HOLPEN Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

HOLPEN, Frederick Ernest

Service Numbers:	678, 352, 54, 503
Enlisted:	14 December 1914
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
Born:	Hemmant, Queensland, Australia, 16 January 1881
Home Town:	Salisbury, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Carpenter
Died:	1 November 1953, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Brookfield Historical Cemetery & Memorial Gardens, Brisbane, Queensland Plot: A-COE-9-8
Memorials:

Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899:	Involvement Private, 352, Queensland Imperial Bushmen
1 Oct 1899:	Involvement Private, 678
18 May 1900:	Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 352, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 475 notes 4th QIB embarked 18 May 1900 aboard Manchester Port arriving Beira 14 Jun 1900.
17 May 1901:	Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 352, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier notes invalided returned to Australia aboard Tongariro arriving Brisbane 3 May 1901, discharged 17 May 1901.
26 Sep 1901:	Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 678, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 519 notes part of 2nd Draft of 6th QIB embarked at Sydney 26 Sep 1901 aboard Harlech Castle arriving Cape Town 26 Oct 1901.
23 Jun 1902:	Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 678, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th QIB embarked at Durban 17 May 1902 aboard Devon returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902.

World War 1 Service

14 Dec 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 54, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
14 Dec 1916:	Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 503, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

Help us honour Frederick Ernest Holpen's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

Frederick Ernest Holpen was born 16 Jan 1881 in Brisbane, Queensland, a son to Worthy Holpen and Sarah Ann Holpen (nee Ball). He married Euphemia Agnes Craig on 12 Apr 1906.

He served twice in the South African (Boer) War and then again in WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 352 in the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 678 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Third service was as a Private S.N. 54 in the 2nd Infantry Battalion AIF, WW1.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 519; National Archives Australia Boer War Service Dossier (1st service) and WW1 service record).

Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

Note- his older brother Archibald (Archie) Holpen also served in the same Boer War contingents, Private S.N. 329, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen and Private S.N. 679, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen 2nd Draft, and enlisted again in WW1 but did not embark.

Frederick Ernest Holpen served twice in the South African (Boer) War and again in WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 352, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer war. Second service was as a Private S.N. 678, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (2nd Draft), Boer war. Third service was as a Private S.N. 54, Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force AIF, WW1.

When he joined the 4th QIB in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as Worthy Holpen, Lindum, Hemmant. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 4th QMI, Bk 3 p. 9, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. Sarah Holpen, Hemmant. He was invalided from service with the 4th QIB and returned to Brisbane for discharge on 17 May 1901.

A few months later he was selected in the Second Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Sep 1901. All but one of the members of the draft had served previously in either the 3rd QMI or 4th QIB contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB. He is however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 119, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs S. Holpen, Hemmant. Members of the draft remained breifly in South Africa on extended service after the 5th and 6th QIB contingents returned to Australia. The service paybooks notes he returned to Australia and was discharged in Brisbane on 9 Aug 1902.

He married in 1906 and as a parent to 5 children enlisted again in 1914 for WW1. On his Attestation Paper, dated 14 Dec 1914, it is noted he; was born at Hemmant and was 34 years 11 months of age; he was married and a carpenter; his N.O.K. was his wife Mrs. F. E. Holpen, Salisbury; and he had previously served with the 4th QIB in South Africa. He served for a shorth while with the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force in PNG before returning to Australia and discharge on 14 Feb 1916.

Frederick Ernest Holpen was born on 16 Jan 1881 at Hemmant, a son to Worthy Holpen and Sarah Ann Hoplen (nee Ball). He married Euphemia Agnes Craig on 12 Apr 1906 at Wynnum South, Queensland, and they had 6 children.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 3 p. 9, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 119; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia