Military History

Cole enlisted as a Private but was promoted to Sergeant prior to embarkation.
Embarked Fremantle per ‘Ascanius’ A11 for Egypt 2.11.1914.
Roll Rank Sergeant.
Roll Unit 11th Infantry Battalion. ‘C’ Company, Australian Imperial Force 1.9.1914.
Cole disembarked at Suez with his Unit. After a short period of training, he entrained for Alexandria and embarked per HMT ‘Suffolk’ with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force for Gallipoli 2.3.1915. The 11th Battalion provided some of the covering force for the ANZAC landing. Cole was wounded 25.4.1915 at ANZAC and was invalided to Alexandria by Hospital Ship, from here he was transferred to the Military Hospital at Ras-el-tin Egypt 30.4.1915. Fifty-eight men from the 11th Battalion were killed that same day of the landing. He was discharged but shortly was again admitted this time with epilepsy 21.5.1915. He was discharged, deemed fit for active service and was taken on Strength at Mustapha with the 11th Battalion 22.8.1915. Cole was then transferred to Mudros 11.9.1915 and from there to Gallipoli. He rejoined his unit at Gallipoli 28.9.1915 and fought in the trenches until evacuation in December 1915. He embarked per ’The Empress of Britain’ for Alexandria. In early 1916, the Australian Imperial Force was reorganized and experience soldiers and officers were split with some joining the newly formed 51st Battalion. Cole was allocated to the 51st Battalion 29.2.1916. One month later he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major 1.3.1916. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in Alexandria with his unit and embarked for France 5.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 12.6.1916. The 11th Battalion fought at Pozieres and Ypres. (Australian War Memorial 11th Battalion) Cole was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class 1) 29.6.1916. He was dispatched as Instructor to 4th Division Infantry School, France 16.2.191 and to the Anzac Corps School as Regimental Sergeant Major 29.4.1917. Cole was transferred and taken on strength with the 2nd Anzac Corps School 26.9.1917. In September he rejoined the 51st Battalion 27.9.1917. He was hospitalised sick 25.5.1918. Cole was wounded in action (2nd time)  in action on te old St. Quentin-Peronne railway at the Somme, with a bullet wound to his right thigh that severed the artery 15.9.1918. He died of wounds at 12th Australian Field Ambulance Station 15.9.1918. Cole was buried by Rev. Blackwood at Caulaincourt Communal Cemetery, now known as Hancourt British Cemetery 836, Hancourt, Picardie France, (6 1/2 miles E S E of Peronne). Mentioned in Despatches No. 31448 Cert. 4987.16.3.1919.
Final Rank Regimental Sergeant Major. 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Deceased, died of wounds received in action 15.9.1918.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Mentioned in Dispatches (Gazetted in London 11.7.1919) for commanding the 13th Australian Infantry Brigade, 51st Battalion.
Notes His mother had the following inscription placed on his grave, ’To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.’

God’s Will be done’
Soon shall restitution glory
Bring to earth a blessed rest
And the poor and faint and weary
Shall be lifted up and blessed.
(Kalgoorlie Miner 19.10.1918)
Photos Sgt. F.W.D. Cole. Photograph source Western Mail 28.5.1915 p1 Roll of Honour
             HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
             Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph source AWM P00035.001
             Gallipoli wounded being loaded onto a hospital train for Cairo 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H12939
             Infantry resting enroute to the front line at  St Quentin September 1918.  Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E03202
             Hancourt British Cemetery Somme. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the CWGC
            

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H12939. Gallipoli wounded being loaded onto a hospital train for Cairo 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian  War Memorial
AWM P00035.001. Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E03202. Infantry resting enroute to the front line at  St Quentin September 1918.  Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour- Frederick William David Cole
Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards- Frederick William David Cole
Australian War Memorial 11th Battalion.
CWGC. Hancourt British Cemetery Somme. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website,  http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww1frenchcemeteries/hancourt.htm
Guildford War MemorialKalgoorlie Miner
NAA: B2455, Cole F W D
Western Mail  Sgt. F.W.D. Cole. Photograph source Western Mail 28.5.1915 p1 Roll of Honour

Lord Street, Eden Hill, West Guildford, WA.

Associated Images