Frederick Charles Close
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Pittsburgh, United States of America |
| Death | 29 May 1934, aged 61 |
| Place of Death | Armadale |
| Age at Enlistment | 44 years, 11 months |
| Description | 5' 10½" (1.79m) tall; weight 170 lbs (77.1 kg); dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair |
| Occupation | orchardist |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife, Mrs Caroline O'Neil Close |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3350 |
| Date of Enlistment | 23 Apr 1917 |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit/Formation | 10th Light Horse, 28th Reinforcement / ANZAC Mounted Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 May 1917 - 20 Jun 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A15 Port Sydney |
| Date of Return | 30 Aug 1918 - 24 Sep 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A18 Wiltshire |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (Medical) |
| Monument | Armadale (Armadale panel) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Prior to arrival in Australia had served for 6 years with the Bechuanaland Expedition Force during the Boer Wars. Married prior to arrival in WA.
The 1910 and 1912 Electoral Rolls show he and Caroline at Wannamal, farming, before moving to Armadale by 1916.
War Service
Within a week of arriving in camp he was allocated to the 28th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment, and within another few weeks promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal.
His records conflict on his port of departure giving Sydney on one sheet, and Fremantle on others, but there is nothing to indicate he left WA at any stage in his training.
On arrival in Egypt he was sent to the isolation camp at Moascar, and reverted to the rank of Trooper. Following a week in isolation he attended the Imperial School of Instruction at Zeitoun, qualifying as an instructor during the 30th Machine Gun Course.
He then joined the 10th Light Horse on 5 Oct 1917 at Shellal near Gaza, remaining with them in the field until he fell ill. On 1 Jun 1918 he reported sick to the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, before being sent on to the 26th Casualty Clearing Station and by 7 Jun 1918 he had reached the 14th Australian General Hospital in Port Said via the 24th Stationary Hospital, suffering with malaria. Six weeks later he was on his way home to Australia, where he was discharged as being unfit due to malaria on 18 Oct 1918.
Post War
Returning from Egypt, he Initially returned to his pre war occupation of orchardist, but around 1925 he is briefly at the Bush Landing at Jarrahdale working as a groom. In 1931 he had moved to Darlington and was working as a gardener.
A son Frederick Lawrence Close served with the 16th Battalion at Gallipoli, being Killed in Action on 4 May 1915.
Frederick Charles' Death Notice refers to him as being from Armadale.[1]
Funeral Notice CLOSE - The friends of the late Mr Frederick Charles Close, of 'Range View', Seventh-road, Armadale, and formerly of the 10th Light Horse. A.I.F., are respectfully informed that his remains will be interred in the Church of England portion of the Kelmscott Cemetery, at 2.30 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon. The cortège will move from the residence of his daughter Mrs F. Howard, Albany-road, Kelmscott at 2.15 o'clock.[2]
Daughter's name was Agnes Beatrice. She married Frederick William Howard in 1927. Other daughters were Elinor Elizabeth Close, Isobel May Close, and Emily Gladys Close. Frederick's wife Caroline died on 23 Sep 1936.
Buried with Caroline in Kelmscott Cemetery.