Frederick Charles Shepherd ¹

  General Notes:

Lived at Mowbray, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Served in the 40th Battalion, AIF, WW1, 5/4/1916 to 21/7/1918.
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Death Notice from The Examiner Friday December 14 1973:
SHEPHERD.--On December 13, 1973, at Cosgrove Park, Frederick Charles, dearly loved husband of the late Thelma Dorothy Shepherd, late of Clyde St, Invermay, loving father of Faye (Mrs J.A. Westlau, Melbourne), loved father-in-law of John Anthony Westlau, and loving grandfather of John Frederick, late 1st 40th Battalion, 1st AIF. Private interment today. No flowers, cards or condolances by request. C.T. Finney and Sons.

  Birth Notes:

Place of birth not stated in register, however informant's address given as Lisle Road (later named Nabowla).

  Burial Notes:

Launceston Carr Villa Cemetery

  Noted events in his life were:

• Trade - sawmill hand: 5 Apr 1916, Tasmania, Australia. ⁵ "Trade or calling" stated on enlistment form - "Sawmill hand"

• AIF enlistment: 5 Apr 1916, Tasmania, Australia. ⁵ Assigned to 40th Battalion

• Proceed overseas to France: 1 Jul 1916, Hobart, Tas, Australia. ⁶ Departed Hobart 1 July 1916
Departed Devonport 22 Aug 1916
Departed Southampton 23 Nov 1916 to France

• Newspaper Article: 9 Sep 1916, Launceston, Tas, Australia. ⁷ Photo in army uniform published in the Weekly Courier 9 November, 1916. The page title is "The Empire's Call, Tasmanians who have answered the Empire's call to arms". The caption for photo no. 18 is: "Private F. C. SHEPHERD, son of Mr. C. Shepherd, Nabowla."

• Promoted to L/Cpl: 17 Nov 1917, France. ⁶ Granted 1 week leave to Paris
Granted 2 weeks leave to England

• Wounded in action: 28 Mar 1918, France. ⁶ Noted both as GSW (gunshot wound) to wrist and GSW to left forearm

• Embark for England: 4 Apr 1918, France. ⁶ Admitted to Reading WH

• Return to Australia: 6 Jun 1918, England. ⁶

• Cemetery: 14 Dec 1973, Launceston, Tas, Australia. ⁸ Launceston Carr Villa Cemetery Block D4/410

Frederick married Thelma Dorothy Wood, daughter of Richard William Wood and Maria Porter Burr, on 14 Jul 1919 in Launceston, Tas, Australia. (Thelma Dorothy Wood was born in 1900 in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, Australia ⁹, died circa Aug 1964 ¹⁰ and was buried on 31 Aug 1964 in Launceston, Tas, Australia ¹⁰.)

  Marriage Notes:

Married at St Pauls, Launceston.

Notice published in The Weekly Courier, Thursday 17 July 1919:

SHEPHERD - WOOD

At St Pauls Church, Launceston, on Monday, the wedding was solemnised by the Rev. C. H. Corran of Corporal Frederick C. Shepherd, late of the AIF, and Miss Thelma D. Wood, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Wood, "De Kapp", Cleveland Street. Only relatives and intimate friends of the young couple were present.

The bride was attired in a becoming and handsome gown of white silk, trimmed with pearls, and wore a pretty net veil loaned by her cousin Mrs. Claude Neville of Devonport. She was given away by her father, and was attended by one bridesmaid, her cousin Miss Kathleen J. Acres, who was dressed in soft white voile. The bridegroom had as best man the bride's brother, Mr. Vernon Wood. As the bridal party entered the church Miss Ivy Teague sang "The Voice That Breathed O'er Eden", and when the newly-married couple were leaving the same young lady sang with beautiful expression "Because".

Immediately after the ceremony the bridal party were entertained at the residence of the bride's parents, where toasts were honoured and responded to. The bridegroom replied to that of the happy couple, and Mr. V. Wood proposed the health of the bridesmaid. Mr. R. W. Wood also made a felicitous speech. The bride's mother was gowned in black crepe de chine. The bride's travelling costume was fawn gaberdine coat and skirt, with smart felt hat of a slightly darker shade. Corporal and Mrs. F. C. Shepherd's future home will be at Nabowla. ¹¹