William Fry – Australian Infantry, A.I.F., 53rd Battalion
Private William Fry – Australian Infantry, A.I.F., 53rd Battalion
Birth and Family Background
William Fry was born in 1883 in Llanrhidian Higher, Glamorgan. He was
the son of Richard Fry and Elizabeth Williams, who were married in
1877 in the Gower.
Early Life
1891 Census
At the time
of the 1891 Census, the Fry family were residing at Llanrhidian
Higher.
Richard Fry (34) was employed as a stationary engine driver,
while his wife Elizabeth (35) managed the household.
Their
children were John J. (14), employed at the tin works; Richard
(11); Thomas (9); William (8), all attending school; and Mary
H. (2).
1901 Census
By the 1901
Census, the family were living at Penlan Cottage, Llanrhidian Higher.
Richard Fry (44) was working as a colliery engine driver, and Elizabeth
(45) continued to manage the home.
The
children recorded were John J. (24) and Richard (21), both coal
miner hewers; Thomas (19), a shoemaker; William (18),
also a coal miner hewer; Mary H. (12); David M. (7); and Eurena
(3).
1911 Census
At the time
of the 1911 Census, the family were residing at Maesyglynen,
Penclawdd.
Richard Fry (55) remained employed as a colliery engine driver,
with Elizabeth (56) managing the household.
The
children present were William (28), a coal miner hewer; Mary
M. (22); David M. (17), an apprentice carpenter; and Eurena
(13), who was still at school.
Emigration to Australia
In 1914,
William Fry emigrated to Australia, departing from Liverpool on 16th
July 1914 aboard the White Star Line vessel Afric. He arrived
in Australia shortly before the outbreak of the First World War.Passenger Lists
Military Service
In August
1915, William Fry enlisted in the Australian Infantry,
joining the 53rd Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.Attestation Papers
Australian Infantry, A.I.F., 53rd Battalion — 28th June 1916
On 28th
June 1916, the 53rd Battalion was serving on the Western
Front in France, undergoing intensive front-line service and
preparations during the lead-up to major operations later that summer. The
battalion had only recently arrived in France, having transferred from
Egypt earlier that month as part of the expansion and reorganisation of the
Australian Imperial Force.
The 53rd
Battalion, part of the 14th Brigade, 5th Australian
Division, was holding sectors of the line in northern France, where
Australian units were being introduced to trench warfare under active enemy
fire. This period was characterised by frequent German artillery
bombardments, trench raids, and sniping, all of which caused regular
casualties even outside large-scale offensives.
Although 28th
June 1916 preceded the battalion’s involvement in the disastrous Battle
of Fromelles (19–20 July 1916), conditions were already dangerous and
exhausting. The battalion was engaged in holding and improving trench
systems, conducting working parties, and participating in relief
rotations, often under shellfire. Artillery fire during this period
was a major cause of casualties, particularly among men exposed while
moving along communication trenches or working in the open.
Newly
arrived Australian battalions such as the 53rd were still
adapting to the realities of the Western Front. The combination of unfamiliar
tactics, intense bombardment, and wet, muddy trench conditions
led to a steady toll of wounded. Men injured during this phase were
frequently evacuated to rear-area medical facilities along the Channel coast,
including hospitals at Wimereux.
It was
during this period of front-line service on 28th June 1916
that William Fry was wounded in action. His injuries ultimately proved
fatal, reflecting the severe nature of wounds sustained by many Australian
soldiers even outside major battles.
Death and Burial
William Fry died of his wounds on 26th July 1916 at No. 14 General Hospital,
Wimereux, France. He is buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery,
Pas-de-Calais, France.
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