Private Frederick Earp
3rd Battalion, AIF
Service Number: 3752
Born: 1893, Penrith, NSW
Died: 5 May 1917, Noreuil, France
Frederick Clarence Earp was born in 1893 at Penrith, the son of James and Ada (nee Lawson) Earp. After completing his schooling, he was employed as a shop assistant probably in his father’s Earp Bros, grocery business in High Street, Penrith. He had also served with the Senior Cadets.
Earp enlisted on 4 August 1915 and was allocated to the 12th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion. After preliminary training in Australia, Earp embarked on HMAT Medic on 7 February 1916 and arrived in Egypt later that month. On 29 March 1916, Earp was transferred to the Western Front arriving at the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples on 4 April 1916. He joined his unit in the field on 24 May 1916. In July 1916, during the 3rd Battalion’s first major action at Pozieres in the Somme Valley, Earp suffered wounds to both his arms. He was admitted to No.11 General Hospital at Camiers on 27 July 1916 and later transferred to England for further treatment.
On 13 December 1916, Earp returned to France. On 2 March 1917, he was promoted to Acting Sergeant until 1 April 1917 when he rejoined his unit on the Western Front near Bullecourt. Earp was posted missing on 5 May 1917. According to the Australian Red Cross Files, Earp was last seen about midnight while on a fatigue party to the front line at Bullecourt. At the time of his disappearance, the front lines were being shelled by the enemy. The 3rd Battalion were later informed that Earp had been killed in a communication trench in front of Noreuil and buried in the same spot. On 3 June 1917, the AIF declared Earp to be killed in action on 5 May 1917.
Memorial Details:
- Honor Roll, Villers-Bretonneux, France
- Honor Roll, Memory Park, Penrith
- Honor Roll, Penrith Superior Public School
- Honor Roll, St Stephens Anglican Church, Penrith
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia B2455, EARP F C
- Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau File no: 0980708
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Penrith City Library Biography files
TROVE:
- Nepean Times 2 September 1916, pg. 4, Col. 3
- Nepean Times 11 November 1916, pg.6, Col. 4
- Nepean Times 2 June 1917, pg. 4, Col. 7
- Nepean Times 9 June 1917, pg. 4, Col. 5