Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick was born on the 23rd March 1885 to parents John Dinning and Mary Jane Thornburrow in South Shields, England. He came to Australia shortly before enlisting in the Navy at Fremantle in Western Australia. His enlistment number was 2468, dated 4th January 1913. His initial enlistment was for 12 years to which he later added another 10 years making his release year 1927. His appearance on enlistment described him as 5 foot 6 inches tall with black hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. His Port Division was Fremantle and he first served on the Cerberus as an Acting E.A. (Electrical Artificer) level IV. This was a trade which took 4 years and they were only carried on large cruisers and above dealing with high power installations. This was one of the higher paid trades at this time on the Navy ships. When war broke out he spent two months at the London Depot in late 1915 before serving on the Sydney from October 1915 to May 1916 when he was promoted to level III E.A. He then continued to serve on this ship until September 1919. During this time he was rated as of “Good Character”. He returned to Australia after the war and again served on the Cerberus as an E.A.III from March 1920 until May 1920. There followed two short stays on the Melbourne and Brisbane where he progressed to E.A.II in July 1920. From August 1922 until May 1923 he served on the Adelaide before finishing back on the Cerberus in February 1928 whereupon he left the Navy having earned two good conduct awards and two chevrons. When he left the Navy he was granted a war gratuity with which he along with his brother Benjamin purchased farmland at Millendon in the Swan Valley. He never married but he and his brother Benjamin ran a vineyard together until his brother’s death in 1951. He spent his last years at the Eventide Home in Nedlands until his death at the age of 80 in 1965.

He and his brother Benjamin are buried in the Middle Swan Churchyard.

Courtesy of Lynette Myles