Frederick Keith James Spinks

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 11/04/2015 - 12:06
First Name: 
Frederick
Middle Name: 
Keith James
Last Name: 
Spinks
Mother's Name: 
Ada Jane
Father's Name: 
Frederick Spinks
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, July 26, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
20th Battalion
Company: 
C
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, July 26, 1916
Place of Death: 
Pozieres, France
Cause of Death: 
Killed in action
Details: 

Private Frederick Spinks (Service no. 2473) was born in the Illawarra circa 1896. He is described as a single 19 year old railway porter from Hearne Farm, Figtree. He embarked on HMAT A 75 Ballarat on 6th September, 1915 with 5th Reinforcements 20th Battalion. He travelled over as a Sergeant but reverted to ranks on arrival in France. He was allocated to 9 Platoon C coy and served with them on the Western Front.

On 26th July, 1916 C coy were at the Somme and at 5am went over the top at Pozieres. Private Spinks was in no-man's-land charging the German trenches when he was killed by machine gun. Statements on his Red Cross file from his comrades tell what happened.

He has no known grave but is remembered on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. He is also remembered on the Unanderra School Roll of Honour.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, SPINKS FREDERICK KEITH JAMES

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Comments

Jocelyn Clare Byrne

Thu, 25/04/2019 - 16:31

Known as Keith. He is my great-uncle. Would you like a photo of him to add to this Illawarra Remembers profile, as I have one?

wollongongcityl...

Thu, 09/05/2019 - 19:54

Hi Jocelyn

Thank you for contributing the photograph of your Great Uncle Kevin.  We are always happy to receive more information about any of our Illawarra soldiers.

Kind regards, the Illawarra Remembers moderators team.