Alphabetically: Previous | Next

1888 - 12/10/1917

Place of birth: Littlehampton, Sussex
Last known address in Bromley: 42 Tweedy Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry
Battalion/Ship: 48th Bn
Rank: Lance Corporal
Number: 2856

Family information

Parents: Frederick & Amelia Emma Finn (nee Gower)
Parents' occupation: Commercial traveller (timber)
Siblings: Minnie (d), Ethel, Ernest, May, Irene

Census information

1891
Address: 40 Arundel Road, Littlehampton
1901
Address: Oxford Road, Worthing
1911
Address: 42 Tweedy Road
Occupation: Shipping clerk

Extra details

Fred was the fourth of Frederick and Amelia Finn's seven children. By 1905 the family had settled in Tweedy Road and Fred was working as a shipping clerk in London. Fred was known in Bromley for his football skills. He played for Bromley Town Football Club, and made an enormous contribution to their success with his brilliant left-winger skills. Fred attended the Baptist Church.

On 12th April 1912 Fred sailed, with Frank Gadsdon, on the Orsova from London to Freemantle to take up a post with the Western Bank of Australia, in Perth. On 6th February 1913 Frank's wife, Mary Gertrude, and 8 children sailed from Liverpool to join him.

When Fred enlisted on 11th April 1916 he was recorded as being 5ft 5ins tall, of fair complexion, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He sailed from Freemantle on the Argyllshire on 9th November 1916, arriving in Devonport on 10th January 1917. After training he was posted to France on 22nd May. He was reported missing on 12th October 1917.

When Fred enlisted he initially had his father as next of kin but this was changed to Mary Gertrude Gadsdon presumably as a result of him making his will on 8th November, the day before he sailed for England. Later (after his death) this is crossed through, "friend" written by Mary's name, and his mother Amelia noted as next of kin. From the correspondence on file we know that Fred had been living with Mary for three years at the time he enlisted, her husband Frank was at a different address. It is obvious that the authorities didn't like this arrangement and continued to treat his mother as his next of kin. It was not until 1927, when visiting England that Mary found out that Fred's body had been found in 1920 and reburied. Because Mary had a copy of Fred's will she was granted a pension for her five youngest children.