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Frazer Paterson Henderson

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Frazer Paterson Henderson
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Personal Information
Date of Birth c1894
Place of Birth Charters Towers, Queensland
Death 4 Dec 1963, aged 69
Place of Death Leederville, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 21 years, 2 months
Description 5'9¼" (1.76m) tall ; 148 lbs
67.132 kg
; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair
Occupation Carpenter
Religion Church of Christ
Address c/- Post Office, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr David Henderson
Military Information
Reg Number 6143
Date of Enlistment 19 Oct 1915
Rank Sergeant
Unit/Formation 3rd Field Company Engineers, 13th Reinforcement, later transferred to 15th Field Company
Date of Embarkation 29 Jan 1916 ‒ 27 Feb 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A54 Runic Fremantle to Alexandria
Date of Return 2 Jan 1919 ‒ 8 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On SS Karmala
Fate Wounded in Action 20 Jul 1916 at Fromelles
Wounded in Action 18 Aug 1916 at Mouquet Farm
Returned to Australia
Monument Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel)
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

Within a month of entering camp, Frazer was reallocated from infantry reinforcements to Engineering reinforcements. Promoted Acting Corporal for the voyage to Alexandria.

In Egypt Frazer was taken on strength of the 15th Field Company - Engineers at Tel-el-Kebir on 18 Mar 1916, before spending a few days in hospital. They left Alexandria on 18 Jun 1916 and entered France via Marseilles on 29 Jun 1916 aboard HMT Kinfauns Castle.

Wounded in Action on 20 Jul 1916 at Fromelles with wounds to his left leg, his Field Company was busy repairing communication trenches near the Sugarloaf Salient. Treated by 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, on the same day he was admitted to 8th Stationary Hospital in Wimereux, returning to an active unit on 15 Aug 1916 after a period in a convalescent depot.

On returning to active duty he was transferred to 1st Field Company - Engineers, joining them at Albert as they were moving to the front lines at La Boiselle between Albert and Pozieres. Wounded a second time almost immediately (18 Aug 1916) with gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and back as his company fought to keep communication and front line trenches fit for use. Treated by the 12th South Midland Field Ambulance, he passed through a Casualty Clearing Station and was admitted to hospital in France.

Recovered, he was sent back to the 15th Field Company, where on 1 Nov 1916 he was mustered as a Driver. On Christmas Day 1916 he reported to hospital sick with a septic foot. Discharged from hospital on 5 Jan 1917 he returned to his unit. On 25 Jun 1917 he was charged with failing to carry out the duties allocated to him at a grooming (horse) parade, for which he was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No.2 (see notes). In September 1917 he enjoyed a period of furlough in England, and again in August 1918.

As a result of his second leave he was required to enter the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital on 6 Sep 1918 with Venereal Disease before being released 84 days later on 28 Nov 1918. On his return to Australia he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Apr 1919 'with debility'.

"...went in January, 1916 with the 15th Division of Engineers to Egypt, thence to France where he was twice wounded - last time near Armentiès. Back in firing line."[1]

The newspapers of the day report Frazer is listed in the 194th Casualty List as wounded.[2]

Post War

1920 married Hilda Annie Day in Perth. Hilda died 22 Oct 1979 aged 84.

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 at 441 Bagot road; Subiaco, carpenter; 1931 Piccadilly street, Kalgoorlie; 1936 - 37 at 6 Richardson terrace, Daglish; 1943-63 at 6 Argyle street, Leederville

Notes

Field punishment could be awarded by a court martial or a commanding officer for any offence committed on active service. There were two categories of field punishment. Field punishment No. 2 consisted of heavy labouring duties, and several hours a day shackled . All offenders awarded field punishment would march with their unit, carry their arms and accoutrements, perform all their military duties as well as extra fatigue duties, and be treated as defaulters.

  1. "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 11. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia. 
  2. "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXII, (4,487). Western Australia. 18 August 1916. p. 7. Retrieved 29 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

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