| Notes |
- Service Number: 812
Rank: Private
Roll title: 12 Machine Gun Company - 10 to 15 Reinforcements (February-November 1917)
Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918
Date of embarkation: 26 November 1917
Place of embarkation: Melbourne
Ship embarked on: SS Indarra
1930 and 1936, 1937, 1943, 1954 Sylvia Jane - Mackie Street, Coniston, labourer and home duties
WRIGHT - Frederick Knox - October 8, 1990, at a nursing home Bankstown, late of Wollongong, devoted husband of Mary (nee Stapley), loving father to Carmen and Janet and
father in law to Sid, loved grandfather and great grandfather of their families.Sadly missed by all his relatives and friends.
(SMH 11 oct 1990)
Rookwood Crematorium Thursday 11 oct 1990
A O’Hare Leichardt
No flowers
First Name:
Frederick
Middle Name:
Knox
Last Name:
Wright
Date of Birth:
Wednesday, March 7, 1900
Father's Name:
Stephen William Wright
Date Enlisted:
Thursday, April 5, 1917
Rank at Enlistment:
Private
Rank at Discharge:
Private
Unit:
15 Reinforcements
Company:
12 Machine Gun Company
Service:
Artillery
Date of Death:
Monday, October 8, 1990
Place of Death:
Bankstown, N.S.W.
Cause of Death:
Age
Details:
Frederick Knox Wright (Service No 812) was born in Hillgrove, N.S.W on 7 March 1900. Frederick enlisted when he was 17 years old, but listed his age as 18 years 1 month. Because he was under the age of 21, his father wrote a letter giving his permission for Frederick to enlist, which he did on 5 April, 1917, in Brisbane.
Frederick was a single man working as a laborer at this time.
Fred's father, Stephen William Wright, of Wallangarra, Queensland, was his next of kin. Fred's mother is noted as 'whereabouts unknown' in both his father's permission letter and on one of his official service documents.
In February 1988 when Frederick was living in Wollongong, he wrote to his niece by marriage, Yvette Reeve (nee Amos), recounting his life story and experiences in the First World War, a brief summary of which follows.
Fred had lived with his grandparents John and Margate Moore from 1906 in Hillgrove. He goes on to tell how he upon enlisting he added 2 1/2 years to his age. Initially sent to Enoggera, Brisbane, Fred was sent to Seymour and then Bendigo in Victoria, before sailing from Melbourne on 26 November 1917 on the S S Indarra, arriving in Egypt just before Christmas 1917.
Five weeks later Frederick sailed on the Kashmar to Sorento, Italy, the ship being harassed by submarines on the way. From here Fred travelled by train through Italy and France to Cherbourg, and across to Plymouth, England, to the Army camp on Salisbury Plains, staying there for about 6 weeks.
From here Fred was sent to a Machine Gun School at Nottingham for 6 weeks training. On completion of this course he was dispatched to Bolonge, France 'for my 18th birthday' and up to the front line to Corbe near Amiens.
Fred was in hospital in Allandville when the Armistice was signed. After his release from hospital Fred joined up again with his machine gun comany, the 13th Company attached to the 4th Machine Battalion. The Company marched through Belgium and took up residence in Dinat, Belgium, spending a few months there. While stationed here Fred received news his older brother Jack was back in England having been a prisoner of war for 3 years in Germany.
In 1919 Frederick boarded the 'Takada' to return to Austarlia, arriving on 17 or 18 July 1919. Fred was officially discharged from the Army in 19 October, 1919, in Brisbane.
In September 1927 Frederick married Sylvia Jane Amos at Bulli.
Fred continued to live most of his life in the Wollongong area, residing at Coniston and Wollongong. Not long before he died in October 1990, Frederick moved to the Bankstown area.
http://www.illawarraremembers.com.au/node/1218
Residence:
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1900 - 1990 (90 years)
[1] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
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: Not Set