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Frederick George Eaton - Information

The Eaton family came from Luddenham. Frederick, known as Fred, was born in Greendale in 1893 to Charles and Mary Ann Eaton. Frederick grew up in the area, attending Luddenham Public School with his four siblings. He remained on the family property, serving with the NSW Lancers and working as a labourer. Just before his 22nd birthday, he joined the AIF, enlisting at Warwick Farm on the 4th of August 1915. He said goodbye to his family and departed Sydney on the 23rd of October 1915 onboard the SS Hawkes Bay. He sailed with the other members of the 11th Reinforcements, 6th Light Horse Regiment.

Fred landed in Egypt and was marched out for Details at Maadi in December. In February 1916, he was taken out to Serapeum, meeting his unit as they returned from Gallipoli. In April, they defended the Suez Canal from a Turkish attack, and prepared for patrols into the Sinai Desert. However, in late June, Fred reported sick with gonorrhoea. He returned to duty on the 31st of July, only to be re-admitted to hospital three days later with a relapse. On the 7th of September, Fred was transferred to the Camel Corps. He was promoted Lance Corporal on the 9th of January 1917, and joined the 2nd Company, ICC in March. His unit fought during the Second Battle of Gaza on the 19th of April. During this altercation, Fred was believed to be wounded, however, no other details were known. His family suffered silently not knowing what happened to Fred, simply receiving a telegram stating he was missing, believed wounded. The army conducted a Court of Inquiry to settle the matter at Kubri-Sinai on the 9th of August 1917. Men from his unit were interviewed, stating that he was killed by machine gun fire at the Second Battle of Gaza. The army agreed that Fred was killed in action on the 19th of April 1917. His loss was later commemorated at the Jerusalem Memorial, Jerusalem War Cemetery in Israel.