Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Freds parent’s each migrated to Australia from Europe, his father Julius Dethlef Bettiens coming from Prussia and his mother Amy Austin from England. They married in Moolboolaman, Gin Gin on December 12th 1882. Frederick was the seventh born of twelve children, with elder siblings Emma Marguerita, Johannes Heinrich, Louise Catharine, Andrew Edward, Florence Mathilde (I) and Florence Mathilde (II), and younger siblings Bertha Elizabeth, Amy Gertrude, William Alexander, Victor Herbert and Lila Julia. Prior to enlisting Frederick worked as a farmer and lived on the family property at Tirroan on the Mount Perry Line.

Around 1883-4 Julius and Amy acquired a 100 acre property in Homestead Selection known as Walla Run at Tirroan which fronted Moolboolaman Road and backed onto Currajong Creek, however the land itself was not very good for agriculture, with only a small section of high enough quality land to be able to be used for agricultural production. They increased the size of their property by 28 acres in 1888, investing in land with better soil quality, which the cultivated with maize, sugarcane, potatoes and lucerne. This selection gave them more frontage to Currajong Creek and they built the family home on the property which was known as ‘Sailors Home Farm,’ and was where Frederick was born.

Julius became involved in community affairs and with other selectors from around the Currajong Creek area established the first school in the district at their own expense, he himself serving as the foundation secretary of the school committee. Severe drought and heavy frosts in the area over the following years caused much crop failure, and caused financial problems for many in the district. Around 1897 the Bettiens’ loan for their selection was foreclosed due to lack of income, the same fate being suffered by many properties around the district with food and employment scare. The family moved to ‘Greenfield’ on Walla Road in Walla, a selection owned by teamster Rasmus Mortensen. The children now attended Walla Lagoon School. Mortensen offered Julius employment through the planning of a large maize growing venture, however this would eventually be crippled by the drought which continued until around 1903. Around this time Julius found work as the cook at the Bates Farm at Walla Lagoon before returning to mining at the Mt Perry goldfield. This meant Julius was away from his wife Amy and kids for the week, only being home on weekends.

Around 1906-7, Julius and Amy bought an 88 acre property in the area which they called ‘Broken Hill.’ At age 10 Frederick went with his parents to Bundaberg by train to purchase the property, and later described the story that it was when he wore his first pair of boots and saw his first big town. At Broken Hill they built a slab hut and began cultivating the ground, which contained a variety of good soils. Julius and his son Eddie went into sugar can and became involved in establishing the Gin Gin sugar industry. Julius was also one of the first farmers in the Currajong district to pay shares in a viable dairy industry. This initiative in the dairy venture resulted in their purchase of ‘Wattle View’ on land adjoining Broken Hill. The family thrived through Julius’ work over many years as a cane farmer, until he died of serious injuries received from a cow kick to the stomach in 1912.

Sadly three of Frederick’s sisters Louise, Florence (I) and Lila all died before reaching the age of three, and his father Julius died on October 19th 1912 from injuries resulting from a farm accident, leaving behind his wife and young kids. Frederick was just 17 at the time of his father’s death.

Frederick enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on Jan 20th 1916 in Brisbane by increasing his age to 21 years 3 months when he was only 20 years 10 months. He was initially posted to the 11th Depot Battalion with the rank of Private before being transferred to the 17th then 18th Reinforcement to the 5th Light Horse Regiment, with whom he embarked with from Brisbane aboard HMAT Seang Choon on 4 May 1916, aged 21. The Seang Choon weighing 5,807 tons with an average cruise speed o
f 12knots, was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Ireland on July 10th 1917. After arriving in Egypt, Frederick was taken on strength with the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Tel-el-Kebir and was then attached to M.M.P. on August 3rd 1916.

On Novemeber 21st 1916 Frederick was transferred into the ANZAC Provost Corps (later renamed Australian Provost Corps) in Moascar, Egypt and was taken on strength the same day. He marched out to his APC field troop, the 1st Light Horse Regiment, on February 1st 1917 and was attached for duty two days later. He was again transferred for duty to the 7th Light Horse and was listed as attached on February 10th.

Frederick was admitted sick to the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance from his field troop on April 7th at Deir el Belah with enteritis and was transferred to the 54th Casualty Clearing Station. He was again transferred to El Arish in Sinai, Egypt by hospital train the following day. He was further struck down with Diarrohea and was eventually transferred to the 14th Australian General Hospital in Abbassia, Cairo arriving on April 15th. He was discharged from hospital on April 25th and re-joined the ANZAC Provost Corps that day in Moascar. On April 30th he was transferred to Eastern Force Headquarters for police duty until being transferred to the Canal Zone again for police duty on June 14th.

Embarked for return to Australia 26 July 1919 aboard HT Burma and disembarked on September 1st 1919. He was discharged on October 17th 1919.

In 1920 he married Gwenllean Gladys ‘Gwen’ Powell and they had a son Colin Frederick Bettiens born in 1927.

Frederick’s brother Victor later served with 15th Australian Garrison Battalion in the Second World War. Sadly Pte Victor Herbert Bettiens, Service No. Q54649, died of injuries on the 12th of July 1942.

Frederick died on December 11th 1976 in Gin Gin.

Courtesy of Chris Comuzzo-Albertson