Joseph Hugh FIDLER

FIDLER, Joseph Hugh

Service Number: Merchant Navy
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Not yet discovered
Last Unit: Merchant Navy
Born: Wistow, South Australia, 28 July 1889
Home Town: Wistow, Mount Barker, South Australia
Schooling: Mt Barker Primary School
Occupation: Chief Engineer
Died: Hughesdale, Melbourne, Victoria, 11 December 1971, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

Date unknown: Involvement Merchant Navy, Merchant Navy

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Biography contributed by Gordon Fidler

Joseph was known throughout his life by his middle name Hugh.
Joseph's (Hugh) schooling started when he was enrolled at the Mt Barker Primary School on the 20th January 1896. He was recorded as living in Mt Barker, his father as being a miner. In June 1902 Hugh was in class V and gained full marks in the annual school examination. He stayed at the Mt Barker Primary School until he finished his schooling in April 1903.
In July 1903 while working at an Ironworks in Mt Barker he injured the index finger on his right hand, it had to be amputated at the first joint.
Hugh served as an engineer in the Merchant Navy in WW1. In 1916 he was on transport ship that was torpedoed & sunk, he was also on ships attacked & sunk by submarines in the Mediterranean, Straits of Messina & Malta.
At the outbreak of WW2 he again answered the call to arms and joined the Merchant Navy as a Chief Engineer attached to the Bristish Eastern Fleet. On his return from this war zone he was posted to the Pacific Islands and served on the American Liberty Ships.

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