Lance Corporal Fred WoolfittPrint Page

The brass plaque commemorates Lance Corporal Fred Woolfitt who was killed in action in April 1918 during World War One.

A 23 year old farmer prior to enlisting on 7 March 1916, he embarked for overseas as a Private with the 3rd Reinforcements for the 50th Battalion from Adelaide on 13 July 1916 aboard HMAT Seang Bee. Following further training in England, he joined the 50th Battalion in France on 7 February 1917 and was wounded in action at Noreuil on 2 April. Despite his wounds he carried on fighting and was awarded a Military Medal (M.M) for his bravery.

After being evacuated to England for medical treatment, he recovered and rejoined the battalion at the end of August 1917. He was wounded in action on the second occasion at Westhoek Ridge, Belgium on 29 September 1917. Two months later, he rejoined the battalion and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 17 January 1918. Lance Corporal Woolfitt, M. M.was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux, France on 25 April 1918 and buried in the Adelaide Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux.

Christ Church, Strathalbyn, was crowded from door to communion rail on Sunday evening last, even the aisles being occupied, on the occasion of the service and ceremony in connection with the unveiling of memorial tablets of brass, which have been placed in the building to the memory Sergeant L. M. Paternoster and Lance Corporal Fred Woolfitt. M.M by friends of the fallen soldiers. Prior to the service a large procession of returned soldiers, headed by the town band, assembled at the railway station, and marched from there to the church, where they were accommodated with seats, the Mayor and Town Council and Town Clerk also attended officially by special invitation. 

The reception was not only very large, many being able to obtain admission, but was representative, all parts of the parish contributing to the total. The tablets were draped with flags when the service commenced, the mothers of the fallen lads unveiling them just prior to the dedicatory prayers, the little ceremony being performed with all the solemnity befitting the occasion. The Rector (the Rev. T. Percy Wood) gave a most eloquent address, which was listened to with rapt attention, the whole service being a most impressive one and memorable in the annals of the church in its half-century of existence here
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA),  2 May 1919.

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