BIDDLE, Frederick Leslie

DSO, MID, died of wounds on 16 Aug 1917 and his death notice published in the Argus on August 27. The dearly loved son of James and Helena I Biddle of 92 Vale Street East Melbourne and brother of Hollis and Isabel.

Early life

In early January 1903 Frederick was encamped with friends at a beach south of Frankston. They had been there since Christmas eve and were accustomed to swimming three or four times a day. Though all but one of the boys was unable to swim there was never any hint of danger. The strong westerly wind which prevailed that Sunday caused a heavy sea to break upon the beaches along that part of the coast. When the lads went down at noon for their ritual swim they found heavy rollers were breaking on the beach followed by a strong undertow. The first to enter the water were Lavers, Sissona and Biddle. Lavers who was standing knee deep in the breakers warned that there was a big wave coming and suddenly, catching sight of the others, said 'Look at Biddle and Sissona, they are out of their depth'. Fairley, one of the boys remaining on shore, immediately plunged in and reaching Biddle brought him ashore with great difficulty both being quite exhausted. Sissona and Bert Lavers had meanwhile disappeared and were not seen again.

Frederick Leslie Biddle was educated at Hawthorn College. He had matriculated twice at the University of Melbourne. He lived with his Mother and Father in Vale Street  for many years though his address when he made his final will before embarking for Egypt was Powlett Street. He was a Mason in the Brittania Lodge.

His father was involved in construction work at the MCG and Melbourne Hospital . His uncle, Job Smith was also a builder married to his aunt Fannie. They and two cousins , Fred and Clara, and lived at a substantial house called 'Berrington'  at 29 Sackville Street, Kew.

Military Service

While living and working as a storeman in Flinders Street, Fred Biddle spent 10 years with the Citizen Military Forces as a gunner in the Australian Field Artillery and involved with the St Kilda Battery. He was commissioned on 20 October 1910 rising to the rank of Captain in 1913 and Officer in Charge of 25th Battery, Australian Field Artillery on 1 July 1914.

He enlisted on 18 August 1914 and was assigned to 2nd Field Artillery with the rank of Captain and departed Melbourne aboard HMAT Shropshire on 20 October 1914. 

Throughout the War, Frederick maintained a loving correspondence with his East Melbourne family, always more concerned about their health and welfare than his own. His letters are amongst the original documents held in the War Memorial's archive.

Leaving Australia

Part of Biddle's historical legacy are 75 letters and a series of telegrams to his family home in Vale Street. 

In an early letter dated 13 November 1914 he writes of the fleet leaving Albany.

'Just imagine a long procession of 40 ships steaming out in line and turning steadily to the right one after the other and disappearing over the horizon. When we all cleared King George's Sound we formed in columns three abreast and have kept that formation all the way. The ships follow at 600 yds dintance behind the one in frony. We are followed by the Africa and she tries to come aboard us about twice a day. She has several times been close enough to throw a stone aboard her. However there is no dange. The Officers know their ships, and the chasing up is caused by checks at the head, and it is not easy to get 'way' off a big ship. We ourselves have been pretty close once or twice.

For some days it was fascinating to watch the big procession of ships, but of course the novelty wears off. At night it was very pretty, but for days now  we have only showed a shaded stern light at night for teering purposes and there is simply nothing to be seen.

The war ships are on all sides of us and we wake in the mornings to find the same procession and the ships still opposite that were there yesterday. We never seem to be able to climb over the hill in front, called the horizon, and have a look at what's on the other side, but this letter is written in the expectation of of seeing something shortly.' 

'We are fully occupied with the horses, drill, and tactical schemes and lectures.'

In the first of two side bars to this account he reminds us of the contribution of the horses that travelled with the contingent -

'It has been a wonderfully smooth voyage so far. I have many times found it rougher going down 'the bay' to Sorrento. This is a good ship, and the accommodation and living excellent. In fact we are getting 'hog fat'.

The only objection is the smell of horse which pervades everything. I am quite sure it will take weeks to get the smell of stable out of our clothes after we land.

The horses, poor brutes, have a bad time on a ship and six have been dropped over the side so far, all pneumonia cases. Caddy has his horses in a fearful place behind the engineroom. It is a regular Turkish bath with no facilities for cleaning it out, and the men worked naked, except for a loin cloth all day.

The horses drip with sweat constantly, and but for the fact that during the last few days a bunker has been cleared out to allow a current of air through I do not think a single one could have survived the Tropics. Our horses are nearly all on deck and are pretty well except for colds.'

and in the second of the contemporaneous engagement between the Sydney and the Emden off Cocos island

'No doubt the Emden'affair' will be stale news when you get this letter, but you probably will not have had a true account. We knew the Emden was within 20 miles of the convoy on Sunday night, when we were near Cocos. The wireless operator there was sending messages and suddenly stopped and sent the SOS  signal. Our wireless man heard it of course. 

At 7.30 a.m. the Sydney cleared out full steam ahead followed by the Minotaur. At 9.30 she sighted the enemy and gave chase. At 10.45 she opened fire and 25 minutes later the Emden was beached to prevent her sinking. One mast and three funnels were gone and she was hopelessly crippled, but her mast was still flying. The Sydney then went after the Emden's collier and sank her. She then returned to Cocos and the Germans hauled down their flag., The Sydney lost 2 killed and 13 wounded so must have been hit but she has not rejoined us so cannot say the extent of the damage she suffered. It could not have been serious however. The Jap warship was very anxious to chip in but was not allowed to leave us and neither was the Melbourne.'

Aproaching Egypt

In a letter to his 'Dear Mother' of 23 November 1914, Biddle's Shropshire is among ten ships of a fast division sent ahead to Aden to take in coal and be ready for the remainder when they arrived.

He also reported a fresh excitement in the following terms-

'At 4.30 a.m. on Saturday we were awakened by a bump followed by 2 or 3 more. I jumped out knowing at once that there had been a collision and the collision signal sounded. I got on deck and found the Ascanius right alongside us.  She had hit us in the stern, sheered off and then hit us again amidships on the starboard side. 

We all went to our stations immediately and 7 minutes after the signal sounded everybody was on parade with lifebelts on. This was particularly good time as the men were sleeping out on the saloon and boat decks and had to go forward and down the holds to the troop decks for their lifebelts. It was quite dark and we were steaming with lights out except head and stern lights. 

We were all quite cheerful as we knew that the bumps were not severe, and in any case the Benalla was behind us and there were plenty of ships about. The sea was absolutely calm and with lifebelts on there was absolutely no danger. The ship was examined and we were glad to find we were making no water at all.

The Hampshire (cruiser) steamed up from the main body and we must have looked a funny crowd. Most of us were in pyjamas and lifebelts, some in singlets. There wasn't the least fuss and the men were rather inclined to sing than otherwise.

When daylight came we found that the stern bulwarks and stern navigating bridge had been carried away on the starboard side.'

'I hope no scare news appeared in Melbourne. We sent out a wireless message when we were struck, and within half an hour heard Colombo passing it on with our report of men overboard.'

The ship arrived at Colombo on Sunday 16 November and left again on Tuesday. The ship's complement was not allowed ashore and had to content themselves gazing through glasses. They had had a good look at Mt Lavinia coming up the coast and 'some fun watching the niggers dive. They made small fortunes as the men were throwing shillings to them'.

Mena camp near Cairo,

In his next letter of 11 December, this time to his father , Biddle  reports the the convoy's disembarkation at Alexandria. As the port took 8 ships at a time and as some took 2-3 days to unload it would have been a slow job clearing the 28 ships carrying the Australians and the 10 the NZ contingent.

From Alexandria the contingent travelled about 150 miles to Cairo and the baggage taken about 10 miles from there to Mena by electric tram.  The camp was right under the Pyramids. An invasion of Egypt by the Turks had been expected but seemed to have fizzled out.

'We have pressed into service every class of transport imaginable, - camels, donkeys, mules, weedy horses, oxen, service wagons etc. The vehicles are the queerest I have ever seen and the camel the queerest ride. Riding on a sledge over boulders is nothing to it. but the donkeys have a tip-top amble.

We are right in the sand which is many feet deep but a few hundred yards away is the most wonderfully fertile land in the world. The country in the Nile Delta produces three crops yearly and the Kitchener Irrigation Scheme provides water everywhere.

The peasantry especially swear by Coo-china as the call him and they have every reason. The laws regarding treatment of natives are most stringent. Soldiers are tried by General Court Martial and civilians are liable to be expelled from the country for striking a native.'

'This will shortly be a British colony . The Khedive has cleared out to Turkey and we hear that on the 21st inst (the Khedive's Accession Day) the Union Jack is to be hoisted. There may be trouble but I do not think it likely. The Egyptians are a most cowardly lot. To see about a hundred men and boys running from dear life when a policeman raises his stick is the funniest site.' 

In the well laid out camp there was an abundant water supply and the force accommodated in big Indian pattern tents with double walls throughout so that on the hottest day they stayed cool.

'The horses snorted with delight when they got on the sand, and have been rolling ever since. Nothing could be better for them. We have astonished every British officer with the splendid condition of our horses. The majority do not look as if they had been on the ships at all and in fact look 50% better now than when we left, as they have of course shed their winter coats. The British horses landed in a very bad way, legs swollen and very much knocked about. They don't know how we did it but if they had seen the men working stark naked in the holds grooming and rubbing the horses' legs they might have some idea. 

We are exercising the horses dismounted at a slow walk and today I took them round the Pyramids to the Sphinx and Temple of the Pyramids. The Pyramids are simply a most wonderful Engineering feat and are mathematically set out and absolutely exactly oriented. I think you understand the term which means the sides face square to the N. S. E. and West. The Sphinx is carved out of the solid limestone. The nose is missing. It was knocked off by a cannon ball fired by order of Napoleon. The latter being most superstitious, afterwards ascribed many of his misfortunes to the wrath of the outraged spirits of the dead.'

Biddle goes on to describe the wonders of the Temple built from stone brought 450 miles from Assouan where the Nile dam was built transported across sand from the river via an enormous causeway using methods still unexplained.

He describes Cairo as a magnificent city full of beautiful buildings and native squalor. Shepherd's Hotel, where he dines a number of times, is described as a magnificent place on a truly Eastern but not bizarre scale.

'The dining room,halls lounges are huge and furnished and decorated in the most delightful oriental style. The servants are beautifully dressed in reds, greens, gold etc but there is nothing barbaric. It is all in perfect taste. And then dinner cooked and served in a way which makes the Melb Savoy like a fourpenny restaurant and all for 5/-. I must say that the rates have been reduced to encourage us to go as there are no tourists whatsoever.'

'I lost my mare in the desert for 6 days and have just got her back. She broke away the first night and went miles away. I thought she was gone for good and that the Bedouins had got her. However the police traced her and she is back in much worse condition than when she left.'

His next letters of 15 and 24 January 1914 and talks of the mails received from family and friends in Australia and to 'the English folk'. He describes arduous training manoeuvres in the desert and the strong winds throwing up dust into eyes, ears, nostrils and teeth. Again he speaks of the horses and compares their very heavy work in the desert to to what they might  experience in the heaviest sand on the Port Phillip beaches.

Onthe half Saturday and Sunday he has off each week  he speaks of visits Cairo and turning corners to find places he never realised existed.

'I have visited the Museum which is crammed full of antiquities, mummies, statues, sarcophagi, ancient jewellery, and etc. Some of the statues are so huge that one wonders how they were ever created. I simply cannot attempt to describe the 'atmosphere' of the whole place or its colourings and in some parts 'smells'.'

 'We started our elementary shooting this week and the 2nd Brigade has knocked spots off all the others in every way. And the 4th Battery has beaten the lot. Generals Birdwood and Bridges were delighted with the work of the Brigade especially as the 1st Brigade (N.S.W) did not do very well on the previous day.

Dowsett ous S.M. says that right through his service in India he never saw an open position better occupied than we did it. Next week we are to work still harder than before especially doing 'night entrenchments'.

'We still hear odd tales of the Turkish invasion none of which I believe. I hear the 'Terrier' batteries have gone to the Canal but if there were anything serious sticking out we would have been out of this long ago.'

'Hope you are keeping A1 and not worrying about me and the reports of Turkish raids.  Although we work hard this is a huge picnic for the whole 20,000 of us. Best love to Father, isabel, Hollis, the boys and Your own dear self.'

'Hope Isabel was a success at the MCG Concert and that Sgt Morgan [cousin] is now a second Lieut.'

On 28 February 1915, Fred sent two letters to his mother. The first that he thought might not pass the Censors said that-  

'4 Battalions with Army Service, Engineers and Ammunition Column details  etc left here to day. Destination unknown, but probably France. We will all be away before a fortnight and are under orders to move at short notice. This is no secret here and I don't think the news can be kept quiet about leaving here. When we do go we won't be able to write letters and Army postcards will be the rule.'

The second describes a consignment of native brassware he had purchased to send home.

'These are all made in the Bazaar by native workmen and the carving is done with a mallet and chisel by eye without any design sketched on the tray before carving.

Mr and Mrs Lamb came with me and did the buying. All the talk was Arabic and I simply had to look disgusted when the prices were quoted and be ready to walk out of the shop when Lamb gave me the wink.'

'She (his sister Isabel) asks if I have seen any East Melb boys. Well Holmes is in the 6th Battery and I see him often but we never speak of course. I met Arthur Harbeck for the first time in Egypt last night and we hada few words with him He looks wonderfully fit. I haven't seen Joe Pearce at all but Ern Fairlie has come across twice. I met McCormack (Bibs) once."

After some theatrics described in great detail,  a deal was struck for 200 piastres (£2.1.0) and Biddle reckoned that the Melbourne shops that sold this class of stuff would ask about £10.10.0. In finishing his letter Biddle inquires about his mother's injured knee and speaks of the frightful row in Egypt about Bean's letter to Australia concerning the conduct of the troops.

'The fact is that out of 20,000 the number sent back for misconduct is 153. Just remember that this city of Cairo offers more temptation to the square inch than Australia offers to the square mile, that it was impossible to expect that we would have no wasters, that it was impossible to find them out in Australia and that a very large percentage of the men had never had to submit to discipline in their lives before.

The liquor sold here is except in the best hotels, very dangerous and decent sober men have been sent stark staring mad with the awful stuff served out in apparently good cafes.'

Each week Biddle writes what he call his weekly budget to his mother in East Melbourne. He chronicles the progress of training, the increasing preparedness of the troops and the uncertainty of whether they would be sent East or West. In his letter of 14 March 1915 he notes the arrival of the 3rd Contingent. He speaks of increasing sand storms and rising at 4.30 in the morning to work in the desert until 10 a.m. in order to avoid the heat of the day. He refers to the horses being spelled to let them pick up condition and the rubbish quality of the forage. He laments the incessant rumours that swirl around the camp about the where and when of likely moves.

'Was glad to learn from Hollis's letter that I am missed at J.F and H.R but as to the remark that "the dept was going to the devil" thats W.A always. Its a little weakness of his and I used to laugh at him when he said it.'

 He applauds his sister Isabel's singing of patriotic songs in support of the recruiting effort and expresses his own foreceful views on the relative merits of  a volunteer rather than a conscripted force. In his next letter  of March 28 he recounts the discomforts attending the frequent dust storms and the billions of locusts that had visited them during the preceeding month. He speaks of the tedium of waiting for action and the arrival of Sir Ian Hamilton to take command of British, French, Australia and New Zealand troops. 

'There seems to be no secrecy now about the job being Turkey as everybody talks about it as a matter of course.' 

And finally by the time of  his letter of April 5, orders to move have been issued and  the force comprising French troops, Foreign Legion, British regulars from India including heavy Howitzer and Mountain Guns, Indian native troops, New Zealanders and 'our own sweet selves' due to break camp and embark for an unknown destination in Turkey. He anticipates landing under the covering fire of the fleet and having to fight as soon as ashore. 

Landing at Anzac Cove

Service postcards from 'Somewhere' on active service on 17 and 22 April reassure his mother that he has done no 'scrapping' yet,  is very well and will write again when there is something to talk about.

On May 29, he writes to reassure his mother  that he is in splendid health and 'have so far not stopped any bullets'. Constrained by the censors he writes

'No doubt the account of our landing has been published in Australia as Bean, the official correspondent has been "among us taking notes". 

We were the first battery ashore and our "A" gun started immediately it got off the beach by wiping out a 4 gun battery which had been playing the deuce with our fellows. The next gun "B" was placed about a mile to the right of "A" and did just as useful work. It fired about 500 rounds during the day at ranges from 300 yards to 1500 yards; mostly about 700. So you see it was hot work.''We are still holding the line secured on the first day but have had several attacks. About a week ago it was very 'willing' and so were our boys. The enemy came at us in successive attacks from midnight until about 10 a.m. and were allowed to come close and then were let have it in great style.The first estimate of their dead luying in front of us was 2000 but after a couple of days they asked for an armistice to bury the dead and attend the wounded.'

'We stayed in our trenches and our casualties were light , about 500 killed and wounded.'"'Ever since the first day I have been on duty as "forward observing officer" in the fire trenches. One would think seeing the men after the first few days that they had been fighting trench warfare all their lives. The naval men call the Australians the 'White Gurkhas' and they earned the name on the first day. At present both sides are digging all day and all night. In some places the trenches are 50 yds apart. In fact at one point they are only 15 yds apart,but we have plenty of support trenches and Johnny Turk knows he will get all he wants if he tries to get in.'

I sleep peacefully through the din of shell and rifle fire from 9 p.m. until 3.30 a.m. unless there is something extra special doing.'

The work here for us is the most extraordinary thing and quite unlike anything we have ever done. No horses are used, the guns being hauled about the hills with about 100 men to a gun and they have to have frequent spells.'

Almost a month later in June he writes again to record that Wolfenden and Siddall, two of his sub lieutenants, have been killed,  Siddall by a shell that smashed him up pretty badly and Wolfenden,a couple of weeks earlier, by a bullet in the head.

'As a matter of fact the one 4th Battery gun which landed on the afternoon of the first day was probably the factor which settled that we should hang on and not give up the attempt. I don't think it is in any way a secret that as night fell the generals seriously discussed a withdrawal and that all transports were ordered to lower their boats manned and await further orders at midnight.'

'I have had several baths in about 1 pint of water and it is surprising what a good bath one can have with care and a sponge.The Colonel and I were walking through the trenches one day and came across a man stripped stark gazing in a doubtful way at his mess tin full of water. "Going to have a bath?' said the Colonel. "Yes sir" said the man, "Wish to God I was a blooming canary".'

A interlude

In mid July 1914 he writes from the Regina Palace Hotel in Alexandria where he is spending a month relieving Captain Spurge in command of horses and drivers not at Gabe Tepe. It was a job considered too big for a subaltern. His C.O. , Colonel Hobbs, had appreciated the work Biddle had done in observation and promised that the moment things got busy he would have him back.

At the end of July he write on Union Club stationery from Zaherich Camp. He complains that Alexandria doesn't have the excitement of Cairo but that the great attaraction about the place is that he can swim every day.

'I have 3 batteries, 1 Bde Ammunition Column ½ a Field Ambulance and Veterinary details to look after and it gives me plenty to do.I don't seem to have any time to spare at all and have only 1 officer to assist me. I rarely have a chance to look around the horses and have to leave that to the N.C.O's'

'Everybody up there (at Gaba Tepe) gets a sort of mild dysentery. Unpleasant for about a week but by no means severe. One has to fight the flies in order to get meals. The place is simply black with them and they are blamed for the dysentry trouble.' 

He writes again from Alexandria on August 5  and 17 enclosing a series of photographs of the Peninsula taken by Colonel Johnson and Lt McCormack  and mentioning family news.

'We are very pleased at the splendid recruiting figures especially in Victoria.'

It annoys me to read letters from the "old fogies" wanting all the racing crowd from Bourke Street sent to the front. It's time somebody rose up and said that the army is not a "dump" for that crowd. They'd be as much use as a sore finger.'

On September 12 he writes again to reassure his mother that the rumours of his having been wounded were misfounded. He mentions a cable that he hoped did not alarm hs parents. " They ought to have a special envelope marked 'Don't be alarmed'. "

'Good progress has bee made lately at the Dardanelles and you won't be pleased to hear that I have my marching orders to return there in a few days time.But I'm very glad as i am absolutely sick of this place. I shall probably command the battery in Major Phillips absence. He is completely run down also Oz Caddy who is pretty badly brocken nup I hear (not literally but general breakdown from strain, dysentery etc) Oz has gone to England and I think it will be some time before he returns.'

'After the attack on July 7th the GOC issued a special order complementing the gunners. He could not possibly have said more than he did.'

'We have received no battle honoursyet as the recommendations went astray between here and London but duplicate recommendations have been forwarded I believe. I am told on good authority (in fact the best) that General Birdwood was very upset about it.'

'I must tell you some of the work some of our brigade Ammunition Column have done. There is a party of about fifteen now called t' the flying squad'. On the 6th and 7th of July in the last big attack they made 17 trips up and back to the 4th and 8th batteries in 24 hours covering 25 miles(It has been oficially measured since) each carying shell weighing 50 lbs. It is almost incredible that they could have done it. The hills are fearfully steep and they were under fire a great deal. General hobbs told me that if the same thing had been done in the south African War, everone would have received a decoration.'

I know you want to send things but for the life of me I cannot think of anything I want. At Anzac if socks are wanted you simply send to Ordnance Depot and get them. If you can send a bar or two of Salt mateo soap it will be very useful. Chewing gum is good. It relieves the dryness of the throat when we are baking in the sun although I know it will be cold enough there shortly.'

The dugout warriors have a great time writing from imagination, like the 'bird' in the 8th battery wh wrote home and told his people that he had seen his pal disembowelled and that if he could have got hold of some Turks then what a price they'sd have paid. He was never ashore and has been well ducked here in the horse trough. He then thought it adroit to cable home and ask his people not to put his letters then on the way in the papers.'

A return to the Dardanelles

In early October Fred writes that he has been back commanding the battery for about ten days and anticipating a promotion or 'step'.

'We have been firing a regular morning and evening strafe at some turkish trenches on a spot called the'Nek'. They are about 30 to50 yards from our own and we enfilade them. We have apparently been making ourselves quite a nuisance to the Turks because he has to keep a large number of troops in the trenches. Anyway a few mornings ago he suddenly opened a rain of H E shells on us. Quite 150 I should think. They fell all rouound but apart from a broken wheel we had no casualties either to personnel or materials.'

'Except from a slightly ulcerated throat I am OK. The doc asked me what I'd like for a 'gargle'. I told him 'beer' but he didn't have any on hand so gave me Condys and Alum in a Port Wine bottle. It is funny to see the other fellows eyes glisten when they see the label. One or two have tried the drink and their language has been shameful.'

In his next letter on 14 October, Fred speaks of the news from the other fronts and unsettling news from home presumably about his father's employment as a builder.

'I was sorry to see that the (Melbourne) Hospital will close down in about 4 months but perhaps the Government will keep it going to prevent unemployment. It will have to be finished sooner or later and is the sort of work to keep going on. Do you think there is any likelihood of anything else coming along? I am afraid you will have an anxious time. Don't hesitate to call on me if necessary. I have a lot of money to my credit with the Paymaster and can send you out a remittance of £100 without missing it at all and without the slightest difficulty as it is a regular thing.'

'I suppose Isabel is 'hot stuff' at the First Aid now. Whom do they first aid anyhow? She was inquiring about the song she sent me. Well it was specially sung at the smoke night we held at Alexanria on August 18th to celebrate out anniversary and went well. Bit heroic though isn't it?'

And later in October he contrasts the heat and flies of the first part of the campaign with the approach of winter. He also outlines preparations for his 30th birthday and the boredom brought on by inactivity.

'We are having very strong, cold winds now with some rain and I can see we will have a very cold time. According to weather reports of the last 30 yeatrs this cold spell with strong winds lasts about 7 days. During November we get beautiful weather  most of the time. The natives always say it is the best month of the year. Towards the end of November we will get it very cold and wet up to January 14th, when we get about a week of snow - blizzards and after that for some time the weather will be very irregular. Snow usually lies for some weeks so we are going to have a great time.'

'Many thanks for all your good wishes for the 27th (Fred's birthday). I hope to have  a quiet day and have saved up stores for a 'beano'. I have stock laid in of tongues, sardines, salmon, 3 kinds of herrings, curry-powder, chutney, cakes, biscuits, sauces, Oxford sausages atc etc being the contents of a £3 assorted box which we have arranged with the canteen contractorsin Alex. .. For drinkables I have a bottle of whisky, cocoa and milk cafe au lait, condensed milk and concentrated milk. 

The shortbread that Isabel sent has not yet arrived, but parcls are usually a week behind letters. However if it and the cake from you arrive late, well, I'll have another birthday, that's all. On thinking it over perhaps I'll have one every week,

Anyway I am asking Oz Caddy, McCormack, Strachan, Manton and perhaps one or two others to the feast.'

In his last letter in October, Fred reports that things are still very quiiet but the Turks fired a salute on the 27th in honour of his birthday.

'So Carlton won the premiership. I'm sorry because it's time they dropped back a bit.' 

In his November letters, Fred recounts the sinking of a barge carrying 377 bags of mail. Again his give his perspecives on the war on its other fronts and the general feeling that the German infantry was increasingly demoralised.

At the end of November they had their first fall of snow.

'Things are pretty slushy in the trenches as you will guess. However except for the feet it doesn't fel cold. My feet are something like blocks of ice tied to my legs. Fortunately our dugout is very snug and we will get through the winter OK I think'

A letter in mid december recounts the death of Lt Skene, a young subaltern killed by a stray shell.

Skene, who used to be in Caddy's Albert Park Battery was forward observing officer and his relief had just arrived. They were talking together in the dugout behind the fromt line when a chance shell came in. we are all very sorry about it as he was a young married man, and had become the proud father of an infant just before he left Melbourne.'

'Our men are wonderfully improved in health and appearance since the flies left us, and most of them are only too anxious to have a go at the Turks.'

The evacuation

In two letters dated 1 and 11 January 1916, Biddle writes to his mother to assure her that he is OK. He speaks of his activities around Cairo and the Camps of Tel-el-Kebir reassembling the men and resources dribbled away from ANZAC and scattered . Troops were forbidden to describe the evacuation. 

The constraint must have been eased after the subsequent Cape Helles evacuation. For in a letter dated 12 February 1916 to Norman Ellsworth, a Battery Sergeant Major from Melbourne and for 11 years a member of the Australian Field Artillery Militia and a member of the crew that took the first gun ashore at ANZAC,  Biddle describes the evacuation of troops there.

'No doubt you have heard all the details of the evacuation by now. The battery left on the night of 17th and I was left behind for special duty controlling the embarkation of the troops from Anzac Beach. It was quite a good job, but very easily could have been a dirty one if the Turks had found out what was going on. However everything went OK. and we were putting 430 men on a motor lighter in an average of 20 minutes (from mouth of Anzac Gully to last man aboard).

The men were splendid and there was not a sound from them or a check of any sort. We made 5½ hours on the time allowed on the second last night, and could easily have done the same on the 20th/21st.

Lone Pine was held by 18 men for nearly 4 hours at the finish and the  Turks were bluffed all the way. Right up to the last the show was just like an ordinary night, with the usual amount of trench sniping simulated by men walking up and down potting from various loopholes.

In fact by an ingenious arrangement first thought out by a corporal of Light Horse, rifles were firing at odd times up to 30 minutes after the last man was out of the front line. The blowing up of the Nek was a great sight and even then the Turks thought we were about to attack.

I embarked when the last of the Australians were on the beach and everything OK. It was a great experience but the waiting during the last 4 hours was somewhat trying as so much could result from a 'fool' act of a single man.

However, all's well that ends well. It hurt a bit leaving Lieuts. Wolfenden and Siddall and all the old boys behind, but we managed to make a triumph out of what might have been a disaster, and so were able to hope we hadn't caused them to turn in their graves.' 

Once ashore in Alexandria on 1 January 1916, Fred sent home a Cablegram assuring his family that he was absolutely fit and sending wishes and love.  The original, date stamped 4 JAN 16  at the East Melbourne Post Office is in the War Memorial's archive. He also wrote from The Windsor, the only English hotel in Alexandria,

'I arrived her OK midday 27th December, was sent to Cairo on duty, rushed around for a day and then went to Tel-el-Kebir where we are forming a big camp for reorganisation and refitting.

We were dribbled away in little bits and so are scattered all over the place at present. As you can imagine, there is plenty to do so please excuse this short scrawl.'

On 11 January he writes from Shepeard's Hotel in Cairo where he had been called as a character witness for one of his drivers in trouble with the Military Police. Through a postponement of the case he was able to get a week's break but contrasts his accidental fortune with the general arrangements.

We are all very sick at being turned straight into the desert, and the leave granted (2% of the men for 48 hours) is scarcely worth going. Personally I'm rather disgustedat it and in the mood that i don't care who knows it. However we shall see whether the English troops are shoved into these unpleasant places or put adjacent to towns where at least occasionally, one may live a civilised life. One of the things I've realised is the remarkable enthusiasm of the average English officer in looking after his own comfort.

However, I didn't start out to growl and no doubt after we have all got over to the reaction which followed the evacuation of ANZAC we shall be happy enough at TEK.'

Later in January he writes of the Special Supplement in the 'Times' giving General Hamilton's dispatch on the Gallipoli position.

'We are now turning ourselves into field artillery once again, and from the little we have seen so far it will not be long before we are right  'up to scratch' again.'

'Close to our camp , in fact practically in it are the defences of Arab Pasha where the famous fight took place in '82 and there is a well kept cemetery close to the railway station where the names of some of the famous regiments may be read on the headstones. It seems strange after over 33 years to find the trenches practically firt for immediate use. No doubt the gravelly nature of the desert in these parts has prevented them filling up. One can see quite plainly the positions of the guns and the embrasures are quite distinct. It was quickly found necessary to issue strict orders against digging for relics as our 'irreverent' men were digging up the trenches for skeletons (native) and old cartridges etc.'

'I should like to have had a hand in helping to make the Xmas pudding and no doubt as you say a few of the raisins and sultanas would have lost their way, but anyway with a bit of luck next Xmas I'll be right in the thick of it (the stirring I mean, not the 'pud'.'

By the end of January he write about the rumours circulating as to where the battery is going next and the expectation that he would get to France sooner or later. His hoped for promotion was still not in evidence but his general disgruntlement at the Army promoting on the basis of seniority rather than field service in clear view.

Command at last

By the time he sent his next letter on February 27th the promotions issue had been resolved. He wrote

'I HAVE GOT COMMAND OF THE 4TH AT LAST.' 

My next step will be published in a few days. Needless to tell you how delighted i am. Have lost a good many top  NCO's and men in transfers, but am still left with a top-hole lot of NCO's and sufficient old gunners and drivers to set a standard for the men drafted from 'columns' and reinforcements. 'I parted with a lot of good men simply to do justice to them and get them the 'stripes' elsewhere that i couldn't give them. I hated to see them go. We've all been through such a lot together that it's hard to separate.'

By March the rebuilding of his unit is progressing well and his concerns turn to his family in East Melbourne and Kew.

'What a rotten crowd H.A & Sons are to refuse Isabel a reference. Of course they could be prosecuted over it if Isabel chose to be nasty. Anyway it is a good job she left and I am glad to find that she has got on so well at Sorelles.'

'Sorry to find the Berrington folk have lost their maids. I don't think they give their girls enough liberty.'

'So the new maid is a bit of a hard case, is she? Well don't you do all the work while she tells her adventures.'

And so to France

By the end of March Fred writes from off Toulon aboard the Bohemian, a Leyland Line vessel, circling around ready to enter the port when daylight came. The convoy had departed from Egypt six days earlier and enjoyed a smooth passage.

As you can guess we were not sorry to leave Egypt and its deserts behind. We are looking forward to a good time here for a few weeks as we have left all our old guns and equipment behind and are to draw new in France and do a short training.'

'We received very short notice to quit although we knew units were moving. We were doing a series of practice shoots and were ordered back to camp urgently and given 10 hours to pack, hand over all stores after checking and depart by troop train for Alex.'

'Well my French will come in useful now although I have got rather rusty and have forgotten the greater part of my vocabulary.'

'I was sorry to read that Uncle Fred has died. I was looking forward to meeting them all when some leave comes along.'

By mid May Fred writes of having been in action for a month but having done very little shooting.

'We are having a picnic as far as fighting goes. 

'We are now going into rest. Some war this one! It's a bit of a change from Gallipoli isn't it. The weather has been beautiful lately but we have a little rain during the last few days. Everything is green and the wheat is coming on well all around us. Of course you have read in the papers about the old men and women carrying on just as if there were no war. One sees it every day. '

And at the end of May his focus is largely on home where his brother, Hollis, seems likely to marry.

'What bad luck that the house is spoilt by the building next door. I think it would be a good idea to let it and take a villa. I know it sounds easier than it is (to get a villa) but if you can get one it will be much nicer for you and save a lot of work.'

 

An appointment by the King

In the Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 14 November 1916 it was announced that His Majesty the King was graciously pleases to approve the appointment of Biddle to be Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty in the field.

'For conspicuous gallantry during three days of operations. As Liaison Officer he did fine work and when his telephone lines were repeatedly cut, passed through the barrage to the telephone stations of other units in order to get his information through.'

Subsequent to being invested by the King as Companion of the Order, Fred met with his brother, Hollis, who was visiting London at the time and handed him the parchment warrant of his appointment. He asked that Hollis deliver it to their mother in East Melbourne.

Hollis sailed for Adelaide aboard the P&O Steamer Mongolia which was mined near Bombay on 23 June. The explosion smashed the cabin in which he was travelling and the portmanteau containing the warrant went to the bottom of the sea.

After months of perseverence a replacement warrant was issued and sent to Helena Biddle.

Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches

Later,  he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 13 November 1916 for distinguished gallantry, services and devotion to duty in the field.

An extract from the second supplement to the London Gazette of 2 January 1917 confirmed that a despatch had been received from Sir Douglas Haig G.C.B Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France

'I have the honor to submit the name of the undermentioned officer serving under my command, whose distinguished and gallant services, and devotion to duty, I consider deserving of special mention.'

Post script

In Biddle's will dated 12 September 1914, made before he embarked for Egypt, he left his estate to his mother, Helena. He described himself as a Departmental Manager of Powlett Street.

His personal effects were returned to Australia aboard the Barambah. They comprised four packages. The first, a sealed paper parcel, contained among other things his fountain pen, letters, photographs, wallet, cigarette case, tobacco pouch and DSO Ribbon.

The second, a sealed leather trunk, contained a bridle bit, riding whip, brush, books, playing cards,whisky flask and numerous articles of his uniform.

The third, a sealed suit case contained two civilian suits, a Masonic Apron in a case, and shirts underpant,socks and a pyjama suit.

The last, a sealed package contained his sword and scabbard. 

Fred's sister, Isabel, changed her name to Biddell and embarked on a long career as a contralto and staff member of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music