SAPPER FREDERICK MOLLER
6654 – Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies
Friedrich (Frederick) August Moller was born on August 15, 1890 at Bundaberg, Queensland the son of Carl Ludwig and Christiane Luise (nee Anderson) Moller. He was apprenticed for five years as a carpenter to Mr J. Squire of Cordalba, Qld.
In 1913 Frederick was working as a carpenter at Aramac in Central Queensland. Later he was working at Roma, Qld. He had previously been rejected as a volunteer due to an injury to his leg.
At the recruiting depot in Roma on September 9, 1916 the twenty-six year old applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the preliminary medical examination. Personal particulars taken show he had a very muscular physique and was 169cms (5ft 6¾ins) tall with a chest measuring 100cms (39½ins). Medical note on his application stated upper teeth need plate. Declared fit his application was accepted on September 11, 1916 by the recruiting officer.
Attestation Forms were completed and describe him further weighing 67kgs (148lbs) with a dark complexion, grey eyes and auburn hair. Church of England was his religion. Distinctive mark was remains of injury to leg. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mrs Christiane Moller of Cordalba, Qld. Swearing in took place the same day.
Basic training commenced at Enoggera camp, near Brisbane with the 11th Depot Battalion from September 30. Final Home Leave was granted on November 8 for five days leave as he had ‘business to transact, have to transfer property he was going to dispose of’ and returned to duty on November 13. He was allotted to the Miners Depot (1st Military District) on November 20.
Frederick Moller married in Brisbane, Qld on November 21, 1916 to Margaret Mary McCarthy and next-of-kin became his wife Mrs Margaret Moller at her address care of Mrs J. McCarthy, Walker Street, Maryborough, Qld.
Training continued until transferred to the Miners’ training camp at Seymour, Vic arriving on December 6, 1916.
He was assigned to the January, 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 6654 on January 11, 1917 and they prepared for embarkation and service abroad.
The Reinforcements consisting of 168 members departed Melbourne, Vic at 3 p.m. on January 17, 1917 on board the HMAT A5 RMS Omrah. The mail ship arrived at 8 a.m. two days later at Adelaide, S.A. and headed off at 4 p.m. that afternoon. It sailed into the West Australian port of Fremantle on January 21 where the Reinforcements were granted Day Leave ashore the next day before leaving on January 24, 1917. The ship returned to Fremantle at 7 a.m. on February 1 and put out to sea again at 5 p.m. the next afternoon February 2.
Sapper Moller is recorded as ‘failed to re-embark “Omrah” Fremantle 2/2/17” and marked as an illegal absentee.
The District Paymaster, 1st Military District wrote to Base Records on February 5, 1918 in reference to their List No. 75 of his failure to re-embark at Fremantle and requested if there was any further record of the man.
Base Records replied on February 12, 1918 advising that no record, subsequent to that quoted, was held regarding that soldier. The Officer-in-Charge requested the Paymaster to advise the result of his investigations in the matter.
On February 28, 1918 the Paymaster 1st Military District, Brisbane advised Base Records that he was informed by the Paymaster 5th M.D. that no trace could be found of the abovementioned soldier in that District.
In 1919 Frederick Moller is registered as a carpenter in Cordalba, Qld.
Military Authorities on July 21, 1920 discharged Sapper 6654 F. Moller in consequence of desertion, being illegally absent from 2/2/17 to 20/7/20. This appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 61 dated 22/7/1920.
As Sapper Moller did not leave Australia he was ineligible for any War Service Medals.
In 1925 Frederick and his wife were residing at Childers, Qld where he worked as a carpenter.
He was a labourer at Mossman North Queensland in 1936 and the following year a shopkeeper at Kuranda, N.Q. in the Cairns district. In 1943 was at 21 Nelson Street, South Townsville with the occupation of carpenter and by 1949 was at Queen Street, Cordalba still a carpenter.
In 1954 they were residing at ‘Benhatchie’ 18 Church Street, Buranda, Brisbane with the trade of carpenter and in 1958 were back in Cordalba living at John Street.
His wife Margaret died on March 22, 1961.
Frederick August Moller passed away on June 17, 1963 aged 73 years. Burial took place in the Cordalba Cemetery officiated by Methodist Minister Rev. Rose and his grave location is within portion 6 in grave no. 181.
© Donna Baldey 2014/2018