BACKGROUND

According to Wikitree.com & QLDBDM Frederick George Langston was born on the 16^th November 1896 in St George, Queensland, son of Frederick Church Langston and Ada Elizabeth (Hartwell) Langston. He was one of 10 children, with 5 brothers & 4 sisters. His father died in 1911 in Tasmania and his mother married Fletcher Watson in Grafton in 1914

ATTESTATION

Frederick travelled to Dalby, Qld on the 12^th January 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as stock man. His next of kin was his mother, Ada Langston, of Tweed Heads.

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”

OATH

He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Frederick George Langston ,swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

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MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Frederick was 19 years 2 months old. He was 5ft 5 ½ inches tall (1.66m) and weighed 144lbs (65kgs). He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His eyesight was good. Frederick was Presbyterian

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training. Frederick was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 24^th March 1915. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private with the 13^th squadron 11^th Light Horse with service Number 303

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the recruits had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training could take several months

INNOCULATIONS

All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.

THE UNIFORM

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.

SOLDIER’S KIT

Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.

·      Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

·      Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.

·      Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

·      Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.

·      Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

·      Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.

·      Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.

·      Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.

·      Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.

·      Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.

·      Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.

·      Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.

·      They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.

·      No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO EGYPT

On the 3^rd June 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Borda A30.  Alongside his comrades, Frederick marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.

Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

DAILY ROUTINE

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

MEALS

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

HEALTH & SANITATION

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.

EGYPT AUGUST 1915
POSTED TO 11^TH LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT

The ship arrived on the 26^th August 1915. After arriving in Egypt, Frederick was posted to the 11th Light Horse Regiment and sailed with the regiment to Gallipoli. During the reorganisation of the mounted troops on the peninsula, he was transferred to the 5th Light Horse Regiment and taken on strength on 29 August 1915. Like the other Australian light horsemen serving at Gallipoli, he spent the following months enduring difficult conditions in the trenches, where disease, shortages of water and constant enemy fire were part of everyday life.

ANZAC TRENCHES

Life in the trenches at Gallipoli was harsh, exhausting, and often miserable. The soldiers lived in narrow, dusty trenches cut into the rocky slopes above Anzac Cove. These trenches offered little protection from the elements or the enemy and were often cramped, infested with lice, and filled with flies attracted by unburied bodies and rotting waste.

During the dry months, the men endured intense heat, choking dust, and water shortages. In winter, the trenches became waterlogged and freezing cold, with many soldiers suffering from trench foot, frostbite, or exposure. Sleeping space was limited, and men often rested in dugouts carved into the trench walls, trying to avoid falling debris or the occasional sniper bullet.

Food was basic and monotonous—mostly bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—and fresh water was strictly rationed. Hygiene was nearly impossible to maintain, leading to widespread disease, especially dysentery and enteric fever. Latrines were crude, and flies swarmed constantly, spreading infection.

Despite these conditions, the men showed remarkable resilience. They endured regular shelling, sniper fire, and night raids, always under the threat of death. Morale fluctuated, but camaraderie, humour, and the shared hardship of trench life helped many soldiers cope.

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

TRAINING CAMP FEBRUARY 1915

Following the evacuation of Gallipoli in December 1915, Frederick disembarked at Alexandria on Christmas Day and returned to the training camps in Egypt. The Australian mounted units were then undergoing a major reorganisation, and he was transferred to the 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Moascar in February 1916. During this period the mounted troops were rebuilding their strength, training in desert warfare and helping defend the Suez Canal against any further Ottoman threat.

HOSPITALISED MARCH NO DETAILS

In March 1916 Frederick was admitted to hospital at Heliopolis and later appears to have been treated at Abassia, one of Egypt's principal military hospitals. Although the nature of his illness is not shown in this extract, many soldiers were admitted with ailments ranging from influenza and digestive complaints to the infectious diseases that were common in the crowded camps.

RETURNED TO UNIT MAY 1916

After recovering, he returned to duty and was taken on strength of the 3rd Training Regiment at Tel-el-Kebir. This large training centre prepared reinforcements and returning soldiers for service with the mounted units. Once fit, Frederick was transferred back to the 11th Light Horse Regiment on 17 May 1916 and resumed his service with the regiment as it prepared for the next phase of the Sinai campaign. The period from May 1916 until his transfer to the 4th Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron on 27 February 1917 was actually a very active one for the regiment.

NEWLY FORMED 4^TH LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE DECEMBER 1916

After the Gallipoli evacuation, the 11th Light Horse Regiment returned to Egypt and became part of the newly formed 4th Light Horse Brigade. During the latter half of 1916 Frederick and his comrades were engaged in the defence of Egypt and the advance across the Sinai Desert. Much of their time was spent undertaking patrols, reconnaissance work, outpost duties and protecting the railway and water pipeline that were steadily pushing eastward from the Suez Canal. Life was harsh, with extreme heat, dust, flies and constant attention required for the care of the horses upon which the regiment depended.

 

During the second half of 1916 the Australian Light Horse was heavily engaged in the defence of the Suez Canal and the advance across the Sinai Peninsula. After the defeat of the Turkish attack on Romani in August 1916, the mounted troops pushed steadily eastward through the desert. Long patrols, reconnaissance work, outpost duties and the protection of railway and water-pipeline construction became part of daily life. The men endured extreme heat, sandstorms, shortages of water and long rides across difficult terrain.

THE BATTLE OF ROMANI AUGUST 1916

Then, in the early hours of 4 August 1916, the silence of the desert shattered. Turkish troops surged forward under cover of darkness, aiming to punch through the thin defensive line and sweep around the escarpment to outflank the Australians. The fighting was chaotic and brutal. William’s regiment, part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, was thrown into the fray—charging, retreating, and counterattacking across the dunes.

The battle raged for two days. The Australians, though outnumbered, used their mobility and knowledge of the terrain to devastating effect. Chauvel had anticipated the Turkish maneuver and placed troops on the high ground, who now sprang into action and repelled the flanking force. By 5 August, the Ottoman dream of capturing the canal was shattered. Over 9,000 enemy casualties, including 4,000 prisoners, marked the scale of the defeat. For the soldiers, Romani was more than a battle—it was a turning point. The victory secured the canal and marked the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, where the ANZAC Mounted Division would shift from defence to offense, pursuing the retreating enemy deep into the desert.

Following this success the mounted troops pushed eastward across Sinai. Through the remainder of 1916 Frederick would have participated in a succession of advances and patrols as the regiment occupied Katia, Bir el Abd and other desert positions while pursuing the retreating enemy

As the railway and pipeline advanced, the Light Horse occupied a succession of desert outposts including Katia, Bir el Abd, Mazar and El Arish. By December 1916 the Australian mounted troops had captured El Arish and were pressing towards the Turkish frontier. In January 1917 they fought at Magdhaba and shortly afterwards at Rafa, victories that cleared the Sinai of Turkish forces and opened the way for the advance into Palestine.

BATTLE OF MAGHABA DECEMBER 1916

Magdhaba, a village located in the northern Sinai desert, was the scene of an action fought on 23 December 1916 when Turkish forces blocking the route to Palestine were attacked by Major General Harry Chauvel's ANZAC Mounted Division, which had the Imperial Camel Corps attached. Success in this hard fought action was secured through a resolute assault with the bayonet by the 1st Light Horse Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Charles Cox, just as Chauvel ordered his force to withdraw. A mounted charge by the 10th Light Horse to secure vital water supplies nearby was also a vital contributory factor in the victory. This action, combined with the success at Rafa on 9 January 1917, opened the way for the final expulsion of the Turks from Sinai.

BATTLE OF RAFA JANUARY 1917

Rafa, a former police post on the Egypt-Palestine border, was the scene of action between the Desert Column and Turkish forces on 9 January 1917. Rafa was one of two Turkish outposts guarding the Palestine frontier and when the other, Magdhaba, fell on 23 December 1916 it became the focus of British and dominion operations. The main Turkish defences were located on a bare hill about one and a half kilometres south of the town, and consisted of a strong network of trenches sited around a central redoubt. The attacking force consisting of the ANZAC Mounted Division, the Imperial Camel Corps, and the 5th Yeomanry surrounded Rafa before dawn but the subsequent attack made slow progress. By mid-afternoon the commander of the Desert Column, Lieutenant General Sir Phillip Chetwode, considered calling the operation off as reserves, ammunition and water were getting short; a definite decision to break-off was precipitated by the approach of two strong groups of Turkish reinforcements. The orders to the assaulting brigades were, however, ignored at unit level and both the cameleers and troopers of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade succeeded in overrunning the redoubts to their front. The Turkish defence then rapidly

27 FEBRUARY 1917 – TRANSFERRED TO 4^TH LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE MACHINE GUN SQUADRON

On 27 February 1917 he transferred to the 4th Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron at Ferry Post and was taken on strength the same day. The brigade machine gun squadrons were specialised units equipped with Vickers machine guns and provided concentrated fire support for the mounted brigades. Shortly afterwards, on 17 March, he was appointed as a driver in place of Trooper Tooker. This meant he was responsible for teams of horses and the transport of guns, ammunition, water and equipment.

During this period the 4th Light Horse Brigade was heavily engaged in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The squadron took part in the advance across Sinai and the operations leading to the First and Second Battles of Gaza in March and April 1917. Later in the year they participated in the successful Third Battle of Gaza, the capture of Beersheba, and the pursuit of the retreating Turkish forces through southern Palestine. As a driver, he would have spent long hours caring for horses, moving supplies, transporting machine guns and keeping the squadron mobile under difficult desert conditions.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF GAZA MARCH 1917

The coastal city of Gaza was the heart of the main Turkish defensive position in southern Palestine. Three major battles were launched in 1917 by British and dominion forces to capture Gaza - only the third succeeded in this object.
The first battle of Gaza took place on 26 March 1917. Two British infantry divisions were to attack it from the south while the mounted troops of the Desert Column would attack from the flanks and north. When the attack was launched the infantry made slow progress but the mounted troops succeeded in capturing high ground to the north of the city and advancing into it. Concerned by the lack of progress made by the infantry, and fearing the water supplies vital for the mounted troops would not be captured that night, Lieutenant General Dobell, the British officer commanding the operation, ordered a withdrawal at dusk. The next morning, after realising his mistake, Dobell attempted to resume the battle with the infantry, but with the troops exhausted and the Turks having received reinforcements, the attack floundered

THE SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA APRIL 1917

The second battle of Gaza took place three weeks later, beginning on 17 April 1917. In the interim the Turks had extended and improved their defences. Dobell launched another frontal assault on the Turkish defences, which was supported by six tanks and gas shells. The tanks and the gas were both dismal failures and the attacking forces could make little headway against well-sited Turkish redoubts. After three days of fighting the attack was called off, having not gained any significant ground.

REVERTED TO TROOP AT OWN REQUEST FEBRURY 1918

On 16 February 1918 he reverted to the rank of Trooper at his own request. This was not unusual and often occurred when a soldier preferred ordinary troop duties or no longer wished to hold the additional responsibilities associated with a specialist appointment.

16 FEBRUARY 1918 – 11 MAY 1918

Following his reversion to Trooper he remained with the 4th Machine Gun Squadron as the campaign moved north through Palestine. During these months the brigade occupied defensive positions, carried out patrols, and prepared for further operations against Turkish forces in the Jordan Valley. The early months of 1918 were marked by arduous service, extreme heat, dust, shortages of water and constant movement between camps and forward positions.

HOSPITALISED PYREXIA 11 MAY 1918 – 22 JUNE 1918

In May 1918 he became ill with pyrexia, meaning a fever of undetermined origin.

The chain of hospitals tells the story of his treatment:

11 May – admitted to 66th Casualty Clearing Station.

Transferred to another medical facility, probably for further observation.

14 May – admitted to 47th Stationary Hospital at Gaza.

15 May – transferred to 24th Stationary Hospital at Kantara.

3 June – transferred to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Port Said.

15 June – discharged to the Rest Camp at Moascar.

22 June – rejoined the 4th Machine Gun Squadron.

Pyrexia was extremely common in Palestine. It could result from influenza, malaria, sand-fly fever, enteric infections or other tropical ailments. His month-long movement through several hospitals suggests the fever persisted long enough to require evacuation away from the front before recovery.

22 JUNE 1918 – 3 JANUARY 1919

This is another period where a great deal was happening despite no entries appearing in the service record.

After rejoining, he returned to the 4th Machine Gun Squadron during the final offensive phase of the Palestine Campaign. In September 1918 the Australian Mounted Division participated in the Battle of Megiddo, one of the most decisive victories of the war in the Middle East. The machine gun squadrons supported the mounted advance that shattered Turkish resistance and led to a rapid pursuit north through Palestine and into Syria.

THE BATTLE OF MEGIDDO 19^TH TO 25^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

The Battle of Megiddo was fought between 19 and 25 September 1918, on the Plain of Sharon, in front of Tulkarm, Tabsor and Arara in the Judean Hills as well as on the Esdralon Plain at Nazareth, Afulah, Beisan, Jenin and Samakh. Its name, which has been described as "perhaps misleading" since very limited fighting took place near Tel Megiddo, was chosen by British commander Edmund Allenby for its biblical and symbolic resonance.

The battle was the final Allied offensive of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. The contending forces were the Allied Egyptian Expeditionary Force, of three corps including one of mounted troops, and the Ottoman Yildirim Army Group which numbered three armies, each the strength of barely an Allied corps. The series of battles took place in what was then the central and northern parts of Ottoman Palestine and parts of present-day Israel, Syria and Jordan. After forces of the Arab Revolt attacked the Ottoman lines of communication, distracting the Ottomans, British and Indian infantry divisions attacked and broke through the Ottoman defensive lines in the sector adjacent to the coast in the set-piece Battle of Sharon. The Desert Mounted Corps rode through the breach and almost encircled the Ottoman Seventh and Eighth armies still fighting in the Judean Hills. The subsidiary Battle of Nablus was fought virtually simultaneously in the Judean Hills in front of Nablus and at crossings of the Jordan River. The Ottoman Fourth Army was subsequently attacked in the Hills of Moab at Es Salt and Amman.

These battles resulted in many tens of thousands of prisoners and many miles of territory being captured by the Allies. Following the battles, Daraa was captured on 27 September, Damascus on 1 October and operations at Haritan, north of Aleppo, were still in progress when the Armistice of Mudros was signed ending hostilities between the Allies and Ottomans.

ARMISTICE OF MUDROS OCTOBER 1918

Following the capture of Damascus in October 1918, the campaign effectively ended. The Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918. During the closing months of the year the squadron's duties shifted from combat operations to occupation duties, maintaining order, guarding stores and camps, caring for horses and equipment, and preparing for eventual demobilisation

 

3 JANUARY 1919 ACCIDENTALLY- FRACTURED ULNA

On 3 January 1919 he was accidentally injured, suffering a fractured ulna, one of the two bones of the forearm. Such injuries commonly resulted from falls from horses, vehicle accidents, handling animals, or other routine military activities.

He was admitted through a field ambulance and subsequently transferred to hospital in Cairo on 28 January. A fractured ulna generally required immobilisation for several weeks, explaining his lengthy absence from the unit.

REJOINED UNIT MARCH 1919

On 8 March he was medically marched out to Moascar, the large military camp near Ismailia that served as a major administrative and convalescent centre. After completing his recovery, he rejoined the 4th Machine Gun Squadron on 16 March 1919.

WAITING TO GO HOME

After rejoining, he spent the final months of his service with the squadron awaiting repatriation. By this stage the war was over and the AIF was gradually reducing its strength. Daily life largely consisted of camp duties, inspections, horse management, equipment accounting, sporting activities and preparations for return to Australia.

GOING HOME JULY 1919

On 24 July 1919 he embarked aboard the transport Dongola at Suez for Australia. After arriving on 25 August 1919, he underwent the normal demobilisation process, including medical examinations, settlement of military accounts and discharge formalities.

CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION

Badges Hat                    Badges Collar (2)                    Bags kit universal

Bags kit sea                   Braces (pair)                            Brush, shaving

Brush, tooth                  Breeches M.S (Military service)

Cap comforter (warm cap)                                           Comb, hair

Disc identity with cord                                                  Drawers (2 pairs)

Great Coat                     Hat, Khaki fur                          Hat, white

Holdall                           Housewife (compact sewing kit)

Jackets Cardigan           Jackets S.D (service dress)

Leggings 1 pair             Laces, leather 1 pair

Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions

Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection 

for the lower leg)

Razor                              Shirts, flannel (2)                   Socks, 3 pairs

Singlets (2)

Strap chin                      Soap piece                               Suit, working

Towels, hand (2)

Titles “Australia” (4)- Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged

DISCHARGED OCTOBER 1919

He was formally discharged from the AIF on 24 October 1919, bringing to an end almost five years of service that had taken him from Egypt and the Sinai Desert through Palestine and Syria, serving first as a machine-gun driver and later as a trooper with the 4th Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Frederick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Myall Remembrance Park Services Memorial and the St George Memorial wall

AFTER THE WAR

Frederick married Gertrude Slipper in 1924 in Queensland. In 1924 Frederick signed a stat dec re lost medals and his address was Finch Hatton via Mackay, Queensland. In 1963 he signed another stat dec, again re lost medals, and his address was Millmerran, Queensland.

DEATH AND BURIAL

Frederick died on the 28^th October 1970 aged 73 at Toowoomba, Qld. He is buried Drayton & Toowoomba Cemetery, Toowoomba Plot section Presbyterian 6 block 4 allotment 43

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