Frederick Thomas Sydney Selwyn

First Name: 
Frederick
Middle Name: 
Thomas Sydney
Last Name: 
Selwyn
Date of Birth: 
Friday, February 19, 1892
Mother's Name: 
Elizabeth Selwyn nee Brooks
Father's Name: 
Alexander Selwyn
Date Enlisted: 
Thursday, December 9, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
1st Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Saturday, September 4, 1943
Place of Death: 
Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney
Details: 

Frederick Selwyn (Service No 5227) was born in Sydney, N.S.W.

Frederick married Mary Fitzgibbon in Marrickville in 1907 and they had moved to Balgownie, N.S.W. with their 2 children before he enlisted.

Frederick took part in the Waratah March when it came through the Illawarra Region of N.S.W. and enlisted at Wollongong during the March.  At the time he was 34 years old, married, lived at Balgownie, and worked as a pastrycook.  Frederick had served 2 years in the Militia.  He was not in the best of health but managed to convince doctors his issues were minor.

He embarked from Sydney on SS Makarini with 16th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion on 1st April 1916.  After a stop in Egypt he joined 1st Battalion in France on 27th July 1916 and saw service on the Western Front.

On 5th October 1916 he was evacuated to hospital sick and again, on 13th November 1916 he was sent to hospital due to deafness.  His medical records indicate pre-existing conditions aggravated by active service.

Frederick was returned to Australia in January 1917 but on the trip home missed the ship leaving South Africa.  When he arrived home he met his third child for the first time.

He was discharged medically unfit due to deafness and rheumatism.

Frederick died in Randwick, N.S.W. on 4th September 1943, only days after he had written the Army requesting a replacement medal, as his had been stolen.  His service is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial 1914-1918.

He and Mary had 5 children, 4 daughters and one son.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, SELWYN FREDERICK THOMAS SYDNEY