Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Geelong’ for Suez 18.12.1915.
Roll Rank Private
Roll Unit ‘C’ Company, 32nd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Lydiate disembarked at Suez with his Battalion. He was transported to Alexandria by HMAT ‘Geelong’. Lydiate joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Alexandria and embarked per HT ‘Transylvania’ for France 7.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 23.6.1916. The 32nd Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19.7.1916. It suffered 715 casualties, 75% of its total strength (AWM 32nd Battalion).  The Australian troops suffered 5,500 casulaties in a single day and 500 Australian and British soldiers became prisoners of war. (AWM Fromelles and Pozieres). Lydiate was KIA at Fleurbaix in France 19.7.1916. (Swan Express 9.7.1917 p4)
His body was not recovered or identified. Many officers and men were lost in this battle and their bodies not recovered. Lydiate, with these other men, is commemorated  at VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
Final Rank Private 32nd Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal
Notes Brothers Albert (SN3171), George (SN 20510) and Sydney (SN442) also served in WW1 with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Lydiate had 7 brothers and sisters. His father lived at Lions Mill. His brother George resided at the Coolgardie Railway Station. 'Myrtle Lodge' the boarding house in James St., was owned by their aunt Mrs Wellman  and is no longer standing.

Photos  Pte. F.W. Lydiate. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P09291.168.
             Frederick William Lydiate. Photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of the Lydiate family.
          HMAT 'Geelong' pulling into the wharf at Alexandria. Photographer Schuler P.F.E., photograph source AWM PS0366.
             Ruined farm on the Fromelles battlefield- damaged in action July 19-20th 1916 battle. Photographer unknown, photograph source                  AWM E04039.
            Section of VC Corner, Fromelles, France- burial place of the unidentified. Photograph donated by  St Barnabas Pilgrimages, London.
            Photograph source AWM H12655

         
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Information Source
AWM P09291.168.  Pte. F.W. Lydiate. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM PS0366. HMAT 'Geelong' pulling into the wharf at Alexandria. Photographer Schuler P.F.E., photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04039. Ruined farm on the Fromelles battlefield- damaged in action July 19-20th 1916 battle. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H12655. Section of VC Corner, Fromelles, France- burial place of the unidentified. Photograph donated by  St Barnabas Pilgrimages, London. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Frederick William Lydiate
AWM Fromelles and Pozieres https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/anzac-voices/fromelles-pozieres
AWM Red Cross Files Frederick William Lydiate
AWM Roll of Honour- Frederick William Lydiate
AWM 32nd Battalion
Frederick William Lydiate. Photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of the Lydiate family
NAA: B2455, Lydiate Frederick William
Swan Express
Wesley Chapel Fallen
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

Lions Mill. WA.
‘Myrtle Lodge’, James St. Guildford. WA.

Associated Images