Frans Oscar Fredrikson

Born 5.05.1878    Place Aland, Finland     Ethnic origin Finn    Religion Church of England

Mother Frederickson, Christina Augusta

Arrived at Australia

            from Hamburg    on 11.1898   per Giv    disembarked at Melbourne

Residence before enlistment Fremantle

Occupation 1906 fisherman, 1916 labourer

Service

service number 6511   enlisted 29.03.1916   POE Fremantle, WA

unit 16th Battalion   rank Private

place Western Front, 1917    casualties POW 1917-1918

final fate RTA 3.03.1919       discharged 31.05.1919

Naturalisation 1906

Materials digitised naturalisation (NAA)

digitised service records (NAA)

Red Cross POW file (AWM)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Hjalmar Karhu, a Finnish former seaman from Western Australia, gave his account of what he called ‘the first “stunt” at Bullecourt’ [1917], in which he was wounded as he tried to retreat. ‘We reached the second line of enemy trenches. “Fritz” counter-attacked us and our bombs ran short. Our chaps were retreating, and I tried to get back to our lines.’ The wounded Karhu was captured by the Germans. Another four Russians were also captured on the same day: three other Finns — Matti Harsila, Konrat Troyle and Frans Fredrikson — and Charles Reppe, from Riga, who was one of the first Russians to enlist.

Back to home if you do not see frames