Private Frederick Messer
4th Battalion, AIF
Service Number: 275
Born: 12 June 1892, Penrith NSW
Died: 14 May 1915, Egypt
Frederick Charles Eddington Messer was born in 1892, the son of Henry and Mary Jane (nee Costello) Messer. He was educated at Penrith Public School. After leaving school Frederick was employed for a short time in the carpentry trade, before being employed as a grocer at the Nepean Stores. Messer was also an active member of the Methodist Church and belonged to a number of organisations including: Christian Endeavour Society, Mission Band, the Loyal Order Society, the International Order of Good Templars and the Scouting movement. Prior to enlisting, Messer was a member of the 3rd Light Horse.
Messer enlisted on 18 August 1914 and was allocated to the D Company, 4th Battalion, led by Colonel A J Onslow Thompson. After undergoing training at the Randwick racecourse, Messer left Australia aboard A14 HMAT Euripides on 20 October 1914 and arrived in Egypt in December 1914. The 4th Battalion underwent training at the Mena Camp near Cairo before taking part in the landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. By the second day, the 4th Battalion were positioned high on the Second Ridge.
In early May, Messer was shot by a sniper and suffered a head wound. He was evacuated to Alexandria aboard the former German passenger liner SS Lutzow. After arriving in Alexandria, he was transferred to the Dioconess Hospital and succumbed to his wounds on 14 May 1915.
Memorial Details:
- Chatby War Memorial Cemetery Egypt
- Roll of Honor, Memory Park, Penrith
- Roll of Honor, Methodist Church, Penrith
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia: B2455, MESSER F C E
- Australian War Memorial Nominal Roll
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
- Penrith City Library Biography files
Wimble, Barbara. (2000). The Messer Family. Parker Pattinson: Hurstville, NSW. Thank you to Barbara Wimble for giving permission to use material from her comprehensive genealogical work on the Messer family.
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