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Australia

Frederick was the son of George BEDSON & Ellen NATT and was born on the 17th of September 1888 in Naracoorte, SA.

His parents were married on the 22nd of May 1884 in the Presbyterian Church, Naracoorte, SA.

His father was the son of David BENSON & Jane CORRIGAN and was born on the 21st of February 1860 in Harcourt, VIC.

His mother was the daughter of William NATT & Barbara ANDERSON and was born on the 25th of January 1865 in Bugle Ranges, SA.

Frederick was the third child born into the family of 9 children.

His father was employed as a ganger by the South Australian Railways.

The family relocated to Millicent and then to Beachport.

Frederick was educated Beachport and was later employed as a labourer.

In 1908 a rather sensational experience befell Frederick, whilst driving a spring cart. He was driving along at a fair pace, when, without warning, the tire of the cart became detached and immediately afterwards the wheel broke in halves, thereby precipitating Frederick on to the road. Fortunately he escaped with a few bruises and a bad fright.

His parents moved to Strathalbyn around 1910.

Frederick married Jessie Catherine SARGEANT on the 29th of November 1911 in the Beachport Institute Hall.

Jessie was the daughter of John William SERGEANT & Lillias Finlayson ROBERTSON and was born on the 17th of July 1888 in Lancashire, England.

After they married they moved to Bugle Ranges.

They welcomed their first child into the family; William John, on the 10th of February 1914 in Mrs Robb’s Nursing Home, Strathalbyn.

Their second child; Frederick Allan, was born on the 22nd of March 1915 in Mrs Robb’s Nursing Home, Strathalbyn.

By August 1916 they had moved back to Beachport.

At the age of 27, Frederick enlisted into the 32nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement on the 8th of August 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 3774.

He listed his wife, of Beachport, as his next of kin.

Prior to Frederick embarking the Cheer Up Society entertained him for the evening.

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A73 Commonwealth on the 21st of September 1916.

His first daughter; Doris Jessie was born in 1916 whilst he was overseas.

After serving on the Western Front, Frederick embarked for Australia on board SS Runic on the 10th of June 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 8th of June.

Frederick was discharged from the AIF on the 17th of July 1919.

In July 1919 a welcome home social was held for Frederick in the Beachport Institute.

They welcomed another child; Reginald George, in 1920 in Strathalbyn.

In 1922 they were living at 32 Hastings Street, Peterborough and Frederick was a pensioner.

Kenneth James was born on the 30th of May 1929 in Peterborough.

By 1937 they had moved to Henry Street, West Croyden and by 1950 they had moved to 3 Willsmore Street, York.

They later moved back to Millicent and Frederick was a member of the Millicent RSL Sub Branch.

Jessie died on the 18th of December 1961 and is buried in the Millicent Cemetery.

Frederick died on the 5th of March 1968 and is buried in the Millicent Cemetery; Section E, Plot 82.

Military

At the age of 27, Frederick enlisted into the AIF on the 8th of August 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 3774 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot at Exhibition Camp (Jubilee Oval).

He listed his wife, of Beachport, as his next of kin.

On the 4th of September be was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement in Mitcham Camp.

Frederick embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A73 Commonwealth on the 21st of September 1916, disembarking in Plymouth on the 14th of November.

He was posted to the Camp 6, 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott for further training before proceeding to France.

On the 5th of December he suffered from Influenza and was admitted into the Fovant Military Hospital for 26 days before rejoining his Battalion in time for New Years Day.

Frederick proceeded to France on boardSS Victoria on the 4th of February 1917 and was taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion from the reinforcements in Rainneville.

The 32nd Battalion had fought their first major battle at Fromelles on the 19th of July 1916, having only entered the front-line trenches 3 days previously. 

The attack was a disastrous introduction to battle for this Battalion – they had suffered 718 casualties, almost 75 per cent of the battalion's total strength, but closer to 90 per cent of its actual fighting strength.

Although they had still spent periods in the front line, they played no major offensive role for the rest of 1916 and spent most of their time training and resting.

In early 1917, the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line allowing the British front to be advanced and the 32nd Battalion participated in the follow-up operations.

By the end of February they were located at Trones Wood in the intermediate line and they relieved the 30th Battalion on the 1st of March.

The trenches in this line were; Needle, Switch and Rose and the 32nd Battalion was working to clean up these trenches.

Not only were these trenches heavily shelled making the task very dangerous, but pigeons carrying gas were also sent above.

It was here on the 11th of March 1917 that Frederick suffered from Influenza once again and was admitted into the 11th Australian Field Ambulance and then the 5th Dressing Station.

He rejoined his Battalion on the 2nd of April, who was still located in the same trenches. 

On the 30th of April he was admitted into the 15th Australian Field Ambulance and then into the 5th Dressing Station once again, but this time he was suffering from Rheumatism and Myalgia.

He was transferred to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station at Aveluy on the 1st of May and by the 7th he had been admitted into the 22nd General Hospital in Camiers.

After 6 weeks in hospital he was discharged to the 5th Australian Divisional Base Department in Etaples and then rejoined his Battalion on the 27th of June her were in camp at Racquingham.

They then spent all of August here in training and practising for their next battle, Polygon Wood.

On the 26th of September 1917, they were heavily committed to the fighting around Polygon Wood near Ypres in Belgium during the Battle of Passchendaele; again they were employed in a support role, as the 8th Brigade's assault was led by the 29th and 31st Battalions. Following the assault, they adopted a defensive posture, supporting further efforts around Zillebeke and Anzac Ridge.

By the 14th of November they were located as a support Battalion in the Messines sector.

They then moved to the front line at Messines in December before marching back to Wulverghem as a reserve Battalion.

They then marched onto Desvres, near Boulogne, where they spent Christmas and underwent specialised training.

For most of 1918 Frederick and his Battalion were placed as a reserve Battalion and Frederick gained 2 weeks leave to England on the 7th of March.

When he rejoined his Battalion they were at the front line at Gapaard, near Messines.

By the 23rd of April they had moved into the reserve line at Corbie and by the 17th of July they marched into reserve at Ribemont and on the 29th Frederick took part in a divisional operation on the Bray-Corbie Road.

They took part in operations around Morlancourt and the Morcourt Valley as the Allies sought to regain the initiative. Later, the Allies launched their own offensive around Amiens beginning on the 8th of August 1918. During this offensive the 32nd Battalion took part in operations in the Peronne area throughout August and September as the Allies sought to breach the Hindenburg Line.

They fought their final engagement of the war between the 29th of September and the 1st of October 1918 as part of a joint Australian and American attack along the St Quentin Canal.

Frederick and the 32nd were resting and retraining at Ramburelles when the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918.

On the 21st of December Frederick was transferred to the Australian Corps Headquarters in Ham-sur-Heure.

Just eight days later he became ill and was admitted into the 7th Australian Field Ambulance in Mont-Sur-Marchienne and the following day he was admitted into the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in Charleroi.

On the 4th of January Frederick was transferred and admitted into the 7th General Hospital in Boulogne-Billancourt and four days later he was admitted into the 39th General Hospital in Marseilles.

He then rejoined his unit on the 14th of January, but by the 25th he was readmitted into the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in Charleroi.

Frederick was then transferred to the 7th General Hospital in Boulogne-Billancourt on the 2nd of February.

On the 5th of March he was evacuated to England and admitted into the 1st Australian Dermatology Hospital in Bulford.

He was discharged on the 28th of March and transferred to the No.3 Goup in Codford.

Frederick embarked for Australia on board SS Runic on the 10th of June 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 8th of June.

Frederick was discharged from the AIF on the 17th of July 1919.