Private Frederick William Lydiate
- Rank
- Private
- Appointment
- Australian Army 1916 Western Front
- Service number
- 985
- Unit
- 32 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Fromelles, France
- Date of death
- 19 July 1916
- Age
- 28
- Plaque number
- L10
- Co-located plaques
- L10A - PTE Albert Lydiate
- Dedicated by
- His family on 13 August 2016
- More information
Biography presented during the plaque dedication:
Private Frederick William Lydiate of 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion was born in October 1887. He was one of five sons and three daughters, born to Sarah Anne and William Lydiate who lived at Lion Mill near Mt Helena in the Swan Valley. He was educated at the local state school and then later employed as a machinist, rising to the position of foreman. He was not married.
He enlisted in the army in July 1915 and after initial training at Blackboy Hill Army Camp was allocated to 32 Battalion. The Battalion was finally assembled at Adelaide, South Australia – it comprised companies from Western Australia and South Australia. The Battalion then sailed from Adelaide in November 1915 on board HMAT Geelong bound for the war in Europe and then fought its first major battle at Fromelles in July 1916.
Private Frederick William Lydiate, regimental number 985, of 32 Battalion, was killed in action at Fromelles, France, on the 19 July 1916. He was 28 years of age.
His official memorial is his grave in the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France, where his headstone is inscribed with “Son of William and Sarah Ann Lydiate, of Guildford, Western Australia”.
He is the brother of Private Albert Lydiate (killed in action).