Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
The memorial plaque for Pte David Fiddes, sent to his father, Andrew Fiddes of Kensington.
Courtesy of Andrew Seymon, President, Flemington & Kensington RSL.
Fiddes D Pte 1659 David 60 Inf Bn 21 Coachbuilder Single Meth
Address: Kensington, Gower St, 81
Next of Kin: Fiddes, Andrew R, father, 81 Gower St, Kensington
Enlisted: 19 Feb 1916
Embarked: A16 Port Lincoln 4 May 1916
Prior Service: 64 Inf
Relatives on Active Service:
Mikkelsen-N-N-Pte-6844 brother-in-law
George Reid, cousin, KIA
Date of death: 21/10/1917 58 Inf Bn
CWGC: "Son of Andrew Ramsay Fiddes and Edith Fiddes, of 81, Gower St.,
Kensington, Victoria. Native of Melbourne".
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Friend of:
Greathead W G Pte 1664
Kelly-R-Gunner-31419
Warren L J L Gunner 32426
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Extracts from Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Correspondence.
Fiddes D
Died of Wounds 21 Oct 1917
I knew a man called Fiddes in A Co. I did not know his platoon, number or initial, nor did I know anything of him before the war. He was about 5ft 5 or 6, rather dark and rather stout, clean shaven and about 22. I don't know if he was married. I was with Fiddes and a man called Langworthy in a party of ten going over a ridge on the 21st Oct on the Ypres sector when a shell fell close to us and after the explosion I saw Fiddes and Langworthy lying across the duckboards both very badly wounded. I went to the officer for help and he sent Sgt Mauser who took charge of them and took them to the D/S. Sgt Mauser told me that Fiddes was carried to the D/S and afterwards to some other place. It was officially reported later on that Fiddes had D/W.
Inf: Pte H W W Schutt 2859 A1
No 3 Can. Gen. Hosp
BOULOGNE 10.1.18.
He was in A Co and had been with the Bn nearly a year. he was the only man of the name in the Co. Pte G E Bird, A Co, was alongside him when he was killed. They were in an Engineer's fatigue at the time near Zonnebeke and were heavily shelled. Bird was with the Bn up to March 4th and would probably be able to give further information.
Reference Cpl H D Meldrum 2277, A Co
56 Gen Hpl., Etaples 12.3.18.
He was wounded by a shell when on fatigue, carrying sand and cement, behind the lines and the same shell got Lieut Woods A II 58th Battn. I saw the S/Bs carrying Fiddes away and they told me both his legs were badly smashed. It was near Passchendaele Ridge - I heard he died at Dressing Station but I do not know anything about his burial. One of the S/Bs was L/Cpl Hindley who was S/B to A Company then, but I think he has gone back to Australia, Bendigo I believe he came from. Fiddes was A II and so was I - little chap about 22. He had bad feet always and was bad marcher.
Witness No 2716 A G Roberts A II 58th Battn
No 1 Command Depot
Sutton Veny
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1045999--1-.PDF
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War Service Commemorated
Kensington Methodist Church*
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours
In Memoriam
FIDDES. — A tribute of love to the memory of
our dear comrade, Dave, who died of wounds 21st
October.
Midst the battle's awful din.
With firm resolve to die or win;
A credit to his uniform,
Our hero fell, and so he died
and B. Maxwell.
FIDDES— Officially reported died of wounds on
21st October, Private David Fiddes, dearly bel oved
eldest son of Andrew and Edith Fiddes, and loved
Edie and Annie, aged 23 years.
Always happy and cheerful,
With a heart that knew no fear,
He stood to face life's battle
For all he loved so dear.
FIDDES. — On the 21st October, died at wounds.
Private Dave Fiddes, of 81 Gower-street, Kensing
son, killed 12th May both of the A.I.F,
Parted for a while, but now united.
Inserted by Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Harrison, 10
Thompson-street, Kensington.
FIDDES. —Died of wounds on the 2lst October,
Private Dave Fiddes, loving nephew of Mr. and Mrs
Reid, and cousin of George (killed in action in
France, 25th July,1916), Mrs. Harrick, Lily, Jessie
(St. Kilda), Charlie (Bairnsdale)
He died for those he loved.
Family Notices (1917, November 10). The Age
(Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), , p. 7.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155184550
WARREN-KELLY-LAURIE-FOSTER-FIDDES.
A loving tribute to the memory of our dear
son and brother, Leslie Warren, died of
wounds on the 9th August, 1918; also
his pals Reg. Kelly killed on 22nd August,
1917; Fred. Laurie*, and Wallie Foster**, on
13th September, 1917; and Dave Fiddes***
on 21st October, 1917.
Noble Australian comrades reunited.
The measure of life is not its span: but the
use made of it,
-(Inserted by Ralph and Bessie Warren, 12 Lee
street. Flemington.)
Family Notices. (1920, August 9). The Argus
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4591214
* Gunner Peter Frederick Laurie, 31420, AFA
** Walter Henry Foster, 31446, AFA
in the Argus up to 1920.
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