Lieutenant Frederick William Stratford

Frederick William Stratford was born at Goolmangar, near Lismore, New South Wales, on 12 April 1894 to parents Thomas Stratford and Alice Stratford (nee Batterham). Frederick was the youngest of eleven children, with six sisters and four brothers. One brother John, died at birth in 1887 and two sisters died at an early age.

Stratford was educated at the Lismore District School and worked in mercery stores in Lismore before his enlistment. Stratford had considerable militia experience after serving one year in the Senior Cadets, followed by three years in the Citizens Forces, 12th Infantry, initially as a corporal, then as Sergeant and finally as 2nd Lieutenant.

Stratford enlisted in the AIF at Brisbane on 1 July 1915 and was initially attached to the 12th Reinforcements, 18th Battalion. In September 1915, Stratford completed an officer’s course. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 41st Battalion in April 1916. Stratford embarked from Sydney aboard the troopship Demonthenes in May 1916, arriving in Plymouth, England, on 20 July 1916. During the journey to England, he participated in a “Grand Souvenir Concert” on 1 July 1916 singing “Till the boys Come Home”, the original title of the song “Keep the home fires burning (‘till the boys come home)”.

In November 1916, Stratford was promoted to Lieutenant and was sent to France. In April 1917, he was wounded in action with a gun-shot wound which caused a compound fracture to both thighs. He was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment, and his right leg was later amputated.
Stratford embarked from England on 9 August 1918 aboard the troopship Malta. He arrived back in Australia on 28 September 1918. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 2 January 1919.

Frederick’s eldest brother, Joseph, a member of the 9th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was in the first wave of troops that landed on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and was reported missing in action during that first assault. It was not until a Court of Inquiry was held in France in January 1916 that Joseph was officially listed as killed in action. His body was never recovered.

Stratford married Alma Dulcie Johnston at Brisbane on 1 October 1919; the couple had a son James and two daughters, Betty and Nancy. Stratford was an active member for the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) and worked at Murwillumbah for 12 months. He then worked in Lismore for several years. In April 1923, Stratford opened a shop selling textiles, which he ran with his son for 20 years. He closed the store following his son’s enlistment in the Second AIF in 1943. Stratford believed he could not continue to run the store without the help of his son. Stratford played a prominent role in the formation of the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) on the Far North Coast and was commanding officer of a VDC area for a time. He then worked for the Murwillumbah branch of the Banana Growers Association until his death.

Stratford was a well-respected citizen and took an active part in many public activities. He was recognised as a fine vocalist and was in demand for performances at various functions in the district. He was a president of the Murwillumbah Musical Festival Society and the Philharmonic Society, and a member of the local School of Arts and Rotary Club. He took a prominent role in the annual Anzac Day ceremonies in Murwillumbah, receiving the wreaths and regularly singing “The Trumpeter” at memorial services.
Frederick William Venables Stratford collapsed and died while waiting for a bus at his home at Murwillumbah on 2 February 1943 at the age of 48. His wife Dulcie died at Brisbane in April 1984 at the age of 86.