TRASK, Frederick Herbert
| Service Number: | 366 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Regimental Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | South Petherton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom, 5 March 1867 |
| Home Town: | Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Briunswick, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 February 1928, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria Plot: Church Of England D, Grave 430 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 366 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Warrant Officer I, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Rank prior to embarkation as published in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, p. 719. | |
| 3 Apr 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Regimental Sergeant Major, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 1 p. 20, notes rank of R. S. M from commencement of payments. | |
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Regimental Sergeant Major, 366, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Regimental Sergeant Major, 366, 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. | |
| 29 Jul 1902: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, London Gazette 29 Jul 1902, p. 4854. | |
| 31 Oct 1902: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, London Gazette, 31 Oct 1902, p. 6909. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When Frederick Herbert Trask enlisted in 1901 in the 6th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file (with the rank of Warrant Officer) in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as Mrs. L. E. Trask, Paddington. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 6th QIB, Bk 1 p. 20, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his wife Mrs. L. E. Trask, Paddington, and he is recorded with the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major.
Frederick Herbert Trask was born on 5 Mar 1867 at South Petherton, Somerset, England, a son to Enos Trask and Elizabeth Trask (nee Brown). He married Laura Emma Neville, its assumed in England, and they had 2 children prior to the Boer war while residing in Queensland.
While in England he had joined the Somerset Light Infantry Regiment, Imperial Army, and on emigrating to Queensland joined the Queensland Defence Force. Due to his service he was appointed as a Warrant Officer when he enlisted for the Boer War, embarking with the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. Due to gallantry during his Boer war service he was awarded honours with a Mention in Dispatches in Jul 1902, and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in Oct 1902.
When he returned from the Boer war he remained on the permanent staff of the Defence Forces and was appointed to an instructional role with the Commonwealth Military Forces initially in Queensland. In 1904 he was transferred to South Australia and from there to Army Headquaters in Melbourne where he was on the Administartive Staff as Chief Instructor of Light Artillery. He retired from the Army in 1924 and after a short illness passed at his home at Brunswick, Melbourne on 2 Feb 1928.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 516; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 1 p. 20; Death of Lt-Col F. H. Trask D.C.M., The Brunswick and Coburg Leader, 3 Feb 1928, p. 3).
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