Frederick was born in 1899 and had lived in Winchester Road, Edmonton, North London. On the formation of the 13th Battalion of the Tank Corps near Wool in August 1917, he was among many men of the Royal Field Artillery to be transferred to the new mechanised unit. It is believed that he was before his transfer employed as an instructor, having seen prior service in France.

The new unit was soon in action, but in an unexpected role as emergency infantry, first near Aveluy Wood and then near Mont Noir, as the German Somme and Lys offensives pushed forward. The Battalion suffered many casualties, but Frederick was fortunately not among them. In his proper role as a tank driver, he was involved in the highly successful attack at Hamel on 4th July 1918, and in the smashing of the German Divisions in front of Amiens on 8th August and subsequent days.

1. GENERAL PLAN.

On the morning of the 2nd October orders were received for 16 Heavy Tanks and 8 Whippet Tanks to operate with the 2nd Australian Division on the next day in an attack on the BEAUREVOIR Trench System, and to capture the Villages of BEAUREVOIR, PONCHAUX and WIANCOURT, and the high ground close to PROSPECT HILL.

2. ALLOTMENT OF TANKS.

8 Mark V Tanks of 13th Tank Battalion and 8 Whippet Tanks of the 3rd (Light) Tank Battalion, were allotted to the 5th Australian Infantry Brigade, and 8 Mark V and Mark V* Tanks of the 8th and 16th Tank Battalions to the 7th Australian Infantry Brigade. All Heavy Tanks to be under the Command of Lt.Col. P. LYON, O.C. 13th Tank Battalion.

3. LIAISON.

The necessary liaison was able to be carried out as there was sufficient time in this Operation.

4. APPROACH MARCH.

(a) Heavy Tanks.

On the night of the 2nd October all Tanks were assembled in QUARRY just East of HARGICOURT. Owing to the traffic congested on the roads the Approach March to the Starting Point took much longer than usual, as Tanks were compelled to cross the Outpost and Main HINDENBURG Trench Systems. Considerable difficulty was experienced and some Tanks became temporarily ditched. Four Tanks of the 8th Tank Battalion developed mechanical trouble, and one Tank was ditched. Two Tanks of 13th Tank Battalion failed to reach the Starting Point, one having mechanical trouble and the other becoming ditched.

The distance of the Approach March was 8500 yards, and it was one of the most difficult Approach Marches that Tanks have been called upon to undertake, owing to darkness and the badly shelled HINDENBURG System of Trenches, which had to be crossed.

All Whippet Tanks successfully reached their Starting Point West of ESTREES.

5. SHORT ACCOUNT OF ACTION.

(a) Heavy tanks.

Nine Tanks started from Starting Point. Six out of 8 of the 13th Tank Battalion, and 3 out of 8 of the 8th and 16th Tank Battalions.

The 6 Tanks of the 13th Tank Battalion operating with the 5th Australian Infantry Brigade, caught up with their Infantry before the barrage lifted. Trouble was experienced at the commencement of the advance from the North Eastern end of ESTREES, which had previously been reported captured by the Australians. Heavy machine gun fire from concealed machine gun posts in this Village harassed the Infantry and held them up.

One of the Right Section Tanks was directed to deal with the opposition at this point. This was done and the Infantry were eventually enabled to advance. The remaining 5 Tanks pushed on through the BEAUREVOIR Trench System, dealing with enemy machine guns, and enabling the Infantry to capture the System in this Sector. After the Infantry had gained the BEAUREVOIR System, one Tank engaged and silenced an enemy Strong Point at WHITE HOUSE. Another Tank pushed forward and silenced machine guns from WIANCOURT, which were harassing the Infantry from the upper storeys of the house, firing at the upper windows with 6-Pdr Case Shot and Hotchkiss Guns. Two more Tanks proceeded to LA MOTTE FARM and dealt with machine guns there. One Tank, after leaving LA MOTTE FARM, and proceeding North towards the TORRENS CANAL, was bombed from a trench along the bank with phosphorous bombs, which caused the Tank to catch fire. The crew got out and succeeded in capturing a number of the enemy and machine guns. The other Tank, passing West of LA MOTTE FARM, dealt with machine guns from that direction until the whole crew became insensible from fumes inside the Tank. 2/Lt. R.T. MARTIN, who commanded this Tank, drove it back to a place of safety himself, and evacuated his unconscious crew with the exception of one 6-Pdr. gunner who had meanwhile recovered. With this man and two Australian Infantry Lewis Gunners, he set off again, continuing to drive the Tank himself until released by the Infantry Commander.

As only 3 Tanks of the 8th and 13th Tank Battalions Composite Company under Major R. CLIVELY succeeded in reaching the Starting Point, they were employed as follows:-

One Tank to proceed to MUSHROOM QUARRY, one to LORMISSET, and one to assist the Infantry in mopping up the Left Flank. One additional Tank which had been ditched arrived subsequently, and did excellent work round LORMISSET. The Tank on the Right Flank fell into a Sunken Road and broke a track at MINT COPSE. The centre Tank proceeded ahead of the Infantry, crossed the BEAUREVOIR Line and proceeded to LORMISSET. This Tank remained for a quarter of an hour on the Eastern slope of PROSPECT HILL, until the Infantry had established their position, then returned to Rallying Point. The left Tank silenced several machine guns in GRANDCOURT WOOD, and eventually became ditched in the TORRENS CANAL.

(b) Whippet Tanks.

The Tanks left their Lying Up Point East of BELLICOURT at 7.30.a.m. the road to be followed being along the North side of the main ESTREES - LE CATEAU Road, thence round North of ESTREES to crossings to be made over the BEAUREVOIR Trench System by Heavy Tanks and completed by Pioneers.

While endeavouring to negotiate this trench, one Whippet Tank got ditched, and another developed mechanical trouble. Another Tank being put out of action by anti-tank rifle fire. The remaining 5 Whippets crossed the BEAUREVOIR Line East of ESTREES where heavy artillery and machine gun fire was encountered. Several machine gun nests were cleared up in this Area by the Whippets, but eventually all were put out of action by artillery and anti-tank rifle fire, just East of the BEAUREVOIR Line, roughly 3000 yards from their Final Objective on the Eastern side of BEAUREVOIR. Three of the Whippets eventually rallied, having been got fit for action again.”

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