Frederick Otto Golder

Frederick Otto Golder was born in 1891 in Avoca, Victoria, to Alfred Golder and Mary Josephine Lillian, nee Frey. He was the fifth of fourteen children born to Alfred and Mary.

On 2nd July 1916, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 25-year-old postmaster from Avoca, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 551 and placed in the 69th Australian Squadron RFC. Frederick Otto gave his next of kin as his father, Alfred Golder.

On 12th June 1916, the Corryong community had a farewell social for Frederick and Stanley Searle. It stated that Frederick had been in charge of the Corryong Post Office for the past seven months, while Stanley had been an assistant at the Post Office for the last twelve months. As judged by articles in the Corryong Courier, Frederick had been an enthusiastic member of the Corryong Dramatic Company, having parts in various plays, including the “well known comedy-drama, Knights of the Road.” Prior to coming to Corryong, Frederick had been involved with the Post Office in Emerald, Queensland.

After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A38 Ulysses at Melbourne, Victoria, on 25th October 1916. Upon disembarking at Plymouth, England, on 23rd December, Frederick was posted to 69th Australian Squadron (later designated No. 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps)

During his enlistment period, he was also a member of the No 2 Squadron, RFC and No. 3 Squadron, AFC, being transferred to those units on 28th August 1917 and 16th January 1918, respectively.

On 6th May 1919, he returned to Australia aboard the SS Kaiser-i-Hind, with the rank of 1st Air Mechanic. He was discharged on 24th July 1919 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.

Frederick married Gabrielle Adelia de Robaulx at the All Saints Church in Muttaburra, Queensland, in November 1919. He passed away on 2nd December 1986 at Geelong, Victoria and was buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery, Victoria.