Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Frederick William Stradwick
Ancestor's date of birth: 04/11/1881
Ancestor's date of death: 05/10/1963
Cause of Death: Age related
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born in England he came to South Australia in 1883, it is believed that he may have served for twelve months in the Garrison Artillery prior to the Boer War. Apparently he attempted to enlist when the Boer War broke out and was assessed as too young being only 18. He then paid his way to South Africa to enlist.
Service Number: 1768
Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: Durban
Unit: South African Light Horse
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 01/03/1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CAPT, Date Effective: 20/11/1917
Murray Page: Not applicable did not serve in an Australian unit
Contingent: Not applicable
Ship: Travelled privately to South Africa/
Memorial details: Perth WA
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: a Medal with clasps. 1914-15 star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: He is believed to have served in the South African Light Horse although the rolls don't show it but the records of the Natal Field Force Casualty Roll shows that he was posted missing and was released from Pietermaritzburg as a POW by advancing forces 12 May 1900 (NFFCR p230 L34). He is also believed to have served in Scott's Railway Guards (a railway security and combat pioneer unit). He returned to Adelaide on 8 Jan 1902 having returned to Melbourne on either the SS Fortunatus or SS Moravian.
Service and life after the Boer War: On return he moved to Perth and lived in North Perth. After the war he served for nearly 5 years in the 13th Field Company RAE as a Lieutenant. He had been to the USA to study electrical engineering in 1906 arriving just after the San Francisco earthquake. When World War One broke out he volunteered for the AIF and was commissioned into 6 Field Coy AIF on 8th October 1915 as a lieutenant. At one point he was injured although the circumstances are not known. He received a gunshot wound which kept him out of the line for 3 Months on 28 July 1916. Transferred initially to 16th Field Coy of the embrionic 6th Division then to 8th Field Coy RAE 5th Division. He was promoted to captain in November 1917. His unit is believed to have captured a German railway gun perhaps the one currently in the AWM.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Malcolm Geoffrey Stradwick, Cremorne NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand son
