CASS, Frederick

Frederick Cass was born in 1892 in Balmain, Sydney to Thomas and Harriet Cass. He had 2 brothers, George and Thomas, and a sister Ruth, all born in the Sydney area.

Frederick enlisted for service on 15 August, 1914. He was working as a clerk and living in East Melbourne. As next of kin, his father Thomas was living in Fremantle in 1914. Frederick joined the 5th Battalion and embarked on 21 October, 1914 from Melbourne on the HMAT Orvieto A3. He disembarked at Alexandria a month later and was taken on strength with the Australian Records Section of the 3rd Echelon MEF. In January , 1916 he was appointed Supervisory Clerk in the position of Acting WO. on 1 March, 1926 he was approved as Supervisory Clerk WO Class 1. Late March 1916 he disembarked form Alexandria on the 'Corsican' to join the British Expeditionary Forces at the Western Front. On 5 April, 1916 he disembarked at Marseilles and proceeded to Rouen where he was taken on strength to join the 3rd Echelon GHO BEF.

He was granted leave in June 1916 for a week. He returned to his previous position then transferred to AIF HQ London mid August, 1917. On 4 January, 1917 Frederick was Mentioned in Despathes for gallant service whilst serving as Warrant Officer with the 5th Battalion in France.  In February 1917 he was granted 2 weeks sick leave. On return to his position at HQ he was promoted to Quartermaster and 2nd Lieutenent. In July 1917 he returned for a month to France to be Honorary Lieutenent with the Anzac section of the 3rd Echelon in Rouen. He returned to HQ in London where he was promoted to Quartermaster and Hon. Captain on 1 January, 1918. He applied for early return to Australia, being granted to leave to travel back via the US and Canada at his own expense. On 26 October, 1918 he departed London on the steamship 'Baltic' and in December left Vancouver on the 'Niagara', disembarking in Australia on 11 January, 1919.

The 1919 census shows Frederick residing back in East Melbourne at the same address as when he enlisted, occupation clerk. By 1924 he has moves to Duindas Place, Albert Park where he has become a travelling salesman. By 1931 he is residing in Hawthorn Grove, Hawthorn, married to Muriel Elisabeth Dobson.. His occupation is unchanged. Sadly he died young on 14 December, 1933. In his service record is a letter written by his daughter Margaret in 1964 seeking information regarding his WW1 service. She writes that she was 4 years old when her fathr died. There is also a letter written in 1967 from his son Michael who was a flight officer with the RAAF at Point Cook. He seeks the Anzac Medal.  The response fom the Army to his daughter Margaret is as follows. "He serves in Egypt, France and the UK. Mentioned in Despatches for gallant service whilst serving as Warrant Officer with the 5th Battalion in France. Unfortunately there is no further information reagrding his gallant service.