Frederic Charles Puddephatt
Stephen LearmonthFred was born in Yackandandah, Victoria, on the 19th of November, 1883, the youngest of nine children to John Joseph and Ann (née Higgins) Puddephatt.
In 1901, Fred’s father sustained a fractured skull, the result of a fall from a wagon. It left him an invalid and, in 1910, he passed away. Newspaper reports indicate that Fred was a prominent member of the Wodonga Rifle Club for many years and a valued member of the Wodonga Tennis Club, where he bore a reputation of being a good clean sport.
Fred enlisted on the 16th of March, 1915, at Wodonga. He was single, 31 years of age and working as a labourer. His Regimental Number was 686 and he was placed in C Company of the 24th Battalion. This battalion was raised quickly. It was originally intended that the fourth battalion of the 6th Brigade be filled by recruits from the outer states. However, due to the surplus of Victroian recruits at Broadmeadows it was decided that the 24th would become a Victorian battalion.
The battalion embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides at Melbourne on the 10th of May, 1915. The voyage to Egypt was not without its tragedies, Eight men became ill in the oppressive heat and died. They were buried at sea with full honours, the first casualties of the battalion. Port Said in Egypt was reached in mid-May. After disembarking they travelled by train to Cairo.
On the 28th of August, the 6th Brigade received orders to break camp and embark on the transport Nile at Alexandria. The sea journey took two days. On the 3rd of September, after only a few days on Mudros, the 22nd and 24th Battalions embarked on the SS Abasiah. And arrived off ANZAC Cove on the morning of the 7th. The battalion would spend the next 16 weeks sharing duty in the Lone Pine trenches with the 23rd Battalion.
By late November the weather at Gallipoli had turned extremely cold with severe frosts and snow. Even so, the Turks continued to harass the Allied forces both day and night. On the 28th of November the Turks introduced new Austrian heavy howitzers that fired 12-inch shells! The following day, the 24th relieved the 23rd at 9 a.m., just as the heaviest ever bombardment of Anzac troops hit Lone Pine. It lasted for over three hours. Casualties for the two battalions exceeded 100.
584 Corporal A.W.Patch of C Company, 24th Battalion, was a witness to the events on the 29th of November, 1915.
“Witness says that on 29/11/15 (the day of the bombardment of the Lone Pine Hill) Puddephatt was standing in the front fire line trench with Lieut Beath (who has since lost a leg), Sgt P.E.B.Shepherd (killed), and Sgt Robinson (wounded). These four were standing together under some light over-head covering, when what was apparently a broom-stick bomb struck the covering killing Puddephatt instantly. He was buried at Brown’s Dip by Chaplain Bladin of 23rd Btn. on the following day (30/11/1915). Lt Beath was in 2 A.G.H. at Gezira.”
After the war, Fred’s remains were exhumed and reinterred in the Lone Pine Cemetery. He is also remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, and the Baranduda State School Honor Roll. For his service during the First World War, he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The December 1st, 1916, issue of the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel included the following “In Memorium”.
“PUDDEPHATT. - In loving memory of Corporal Frederick Charles Puddephatt, beloved youngest son of the late John Joseph and Ann Puddephatt, Wodonga, killed in action on 29th November, 1915.
Call not back the dear departed
Anchred safe where storms are o’er;
On the boaderland we left them,
Soon to meet and part no more,
Far beyond the world of care
We shall meet our missing loved ones
In our Father’s mansion fair.
- Inserted by his loving mother, sisters and brothers.”
