Frederick George Eaton

Frederick Eaton

Lance Corporal Frederick George Eaton

6th Light Horse & 1st Anzac Camel Battalion, AIF

Service Number: 1384

 

Born: 19 April 1893, Luddenham, NSW

Died: 19 April 1917, Gaza, Palestine

Frederick George Eaton was born on 19 April 1893 at Luddenham, the youngest son of Charles Eaton and Mary Ann (nee Hayes). Eaton was employed as a labourer and had served as a member of the Luddenham Light Horse for six years prior to the outbreak of war. He was a noted horseman and athlete.

Eaton enlisted at Warwick Farm and was allocated to the 11th Reinforcements, 6th Australian Light Horse. He left Sydney on 31 October 1915 aboard the SS Hawkes Bay. He undertook training in Egypt and joined the 2nd Light Horse unit at Serapeum. In June 1916 Eaton required hospitalisation and was admitted to the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance before being transferred to the Scotland Horse Field Ambulance at Port Said. He was later transported aboard the HS Miagara to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital where he remained until the end of July 1916. He was intermittently quarantined until the end of August. On discharge Eaton was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps based at Abbassia. In November 1916 he was transferred to the Anzac Reserve Depot Company and was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal on 9 January 1917.

On 8 March 1917 Eaton was transferred to 1st Battalion, No 2 Company of the Camel Brigade. His unit was then sent to Palestine. Eaton was listed as missing in action on 19 April 1917 while fighting against Turkish and Bedouin forces during the second Battle for Gaza in Palestine. Eaton’s relatives were notified that he was wounded in action. On 2 July 1917, Eaton’s father wrote to the military authorities asking about his son’s whereabouts as word had been received from one of Eaton’s mates about his death. A court of inquiry held on 19 August 1917 found that Eaton was killed in action on 19 April 1917. The Nepean Times reported in its issue of 15 September 1917 that Eaton ‘underwent a period of strenuous training in Egypt, and took part in a number of engagements with the Turks, assisted by the Nomadic Arab tribes, and was in the battle of Romani. … He had written home frequently, recounting his various experiences in Egypt and Palestine; and had a thorough Australian loathing of the sultry Oriental heat, immemorial sands, flies and ethnic customs of Ancient Egypt. In writing home he remarked that he had received no letters for six months, but then received about 50 in one batch, “a feast,” which he observed, “made up for the famine” that had passed’.

Memorial Details:

  • Jerusalem Memorial, Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel
  • Honor Roll, Methodist Church, Luddenham

Sources:

TROVE:

Acknowledgment: Thank you to Susan Batho for providing the image of Frederick George Eaton.