JUDITH​ HOLMAN-CROOK

Frederick Pope was born 1 Nov 1893 in Heston, Middlesex, England and baptised  3 Dec 1893, Heston, Hounslow, London, he was the son of James and Ann 'Helena' Eleanor King brother of Arthur, Robert, William, James Henry, Thomas Arthur and Eleanor Jane. Frederick was the baby of the family.

 

Frederick's Time Clock

• In 1901 at the age of 7 Frederick  lived in 12 Raynham Terrace, Edmonton, Middlesex with his parents and James Henry, Thomas Arthur, Eleanor Jane and Ann Eleanor's brother Henry 'Harry' King. The home was a  2 bedroom terraced house of the day and very hard to fit seven people but they did.

(The house still stands and is now an up market flat)

 

• In 1902 At the age of 8 Frederick's father James died leaving Fred with his mother Ann and Harry King in number 12 Raynham Terrace.

 

• Fred went to school across the road from his home. He was a good scholar and a good son and was to look after  his mother all her life.

 

• In 1911 Things hadn't changed in the home. Fred and his mother Ann was still sharing his home with his Uncle Harry. Fred was now 17 and working. He gained employment as a Railway Clerk. 

 

• On the 8 Nov 1915 at the age of 22 and the height of 5' 8" he, as his mother of kin joined the army. Fred was now Pvt Frederick Pope No. MZ 147113, R.A.S.C M.T.  Fred was an I.C.E. Driver while in the Army Sobriety...Good, Reliability... Good, Intelligent...Yes, Work in civilian life...Lorry Driver.

 

But Pvt. Frederick Pope had an offence in the field on the 10 Aug1917.

 

It was when of active service failing to comply with M T orders (Drivers) (SS 400) No. 12 (3) not reporting a name G S Wagon driver who caused damage to W.D. lorry No. 28465. Name of witnesses.. C.S.M. Lloyd T. and Sgt Baker. Punishment Awarded...Deprived 4 days pay. Date of trial...13 Aug 1917. 

 

When I read this part of my grandfathers war record it made me even more proud of him. He wouldn't rat on his mates. He knew who damaged the wagon but would rather have taken the punishment than dob.

 

Fred drove the Ambulances and any vehicle that need driving. He delivered food, timber, bullets, wire. Bought back bodies alive and dead. Fred went through all the horrors in France that most solders went through. The mud, death and gassing. He and so many other received the  British War Medal and the Victory Medal which were to go missing after his daughter Joan's death in 2005.  A family brawl.

 

Fred returned to England on 29 Jul 1919 after serving in France  for over 3 ½ years with breaks home during that period. Fred suffered the same as anyother serviceman who had gone through WW1 in the trenches . The nightmares, flashbacks and the illness that the long weeks in the mud and constant rain, the gassing that caused his sickness all his life.  Such as John Thomas Crook. [See his page.] 

 

On the 28 Jan 1922 Frederick married Phoebe Celine Zoe Ogbourne at Edmonton, Middlesex.  On the 24 Aug 1922 Frederick, his wife Phoebe and his mother Ann King left for Australia aboard the ship 'Baradine' for a new life away from the war and poverty. The cabin situation on the Baradine was not as you would assume with a new husband and wife aboard. Phoebe and Ann were to share a cabin and Frederick shared a cabin with a fellow who he had never met. Baby John Frederick was born in Brunswick on the 30 Dec 1922. John was always happy to say he was conceived in England and born in Australia and had a cruise in between which he didn't have to pay for.

 

• 1922 The  first home Frederick, Phoebe, Ann, and baby John Frederick, set up in was 4 Gregory-street, Brunswick.

 

• In 1924 Frederick, Phoebe, Ann, John Frederick, and baby Joan set up in was 4 Gregory-street, Brunswick. Fred's trade was a Stove Fitter in 1924.

 

• In 1931 Frederick, Phoebe, Ann, John Frederick, Joan, Jean Constance and baby Ernest David, lived in 129 Victoria-street, Brunswick. By now he was back to driving for an occupation which he loved best.

 

• In 1936 Frederick, Phoebe, Ann, John Frederick, Joan, Jean Constance, Ernest David and baby Arthur Irwin Roland lived in 135 Victoria-street, Brunswick. His occupation continued as a driver until he retired at the age of 66. The Pope family lived at 135 Victoria-street, until 1954 and having rented since having arrived in Australia, finally Frederick can build a family home, and in the country.

 

 

Keilor, where the air is fresh and clean and the river is clean and runs free and the fish is plenty. In fact everything is plenty. That's where the Pope family finally settled. Frederick started to build his own home. It was a modest home with two bedrooms, a separate kitchen and lounge and a modern laundry and toilet. It was wonderful. Everything Fred wanted for his family.

 

As a child I have memories of having many holidays in Keilor spending time with my cousins John and Geoff swimming in the Maribyrnong River, climbing the very steep hills with only small tuffts of grass to hold onto thinking we would fall any minute and still do it. Catch fish and then cook it by the river. Then go to Nan and Pops for a hug and warm smiles.

 

But the years of being constantly wet,cold and the gassing Frederick endured in WW1 ruined his plan for a long happy life in his new home. After working hard every day of his life since he landed in Australia till the age of 67½, Frederick had only retired six months before but because of the gassing he received while in France it had caused major damage to his heart and lungs. Now Fred was not a man to go to the doctor unless he had to. He had a family GP the same as Phoebe, but in 1962 not as much was known about the effects of the gassing as today. Frederick, on the 25 May 1962 was having chest pains and an ambulance was called. Fred was in his pyjamas. He wasn't going to go to the hospital in his pyjamas. He was going to get dressed. So as he was pulling on his socks, he had another heart attack, the final one. My beloved grand-father Frederick Pope passed away in his home on the 25 May 1962. I will miss him forever.

 

I was only 13 and was not allowed to go to Pops funeral. My parents said I was too young. I thought I was not. But I did as I was told and was sorry that I never said my last goodbyes. He was buried in the Keilor cemetery on the hill overlooking the Maribyrnong River and his home at Horseshoe Bend Road, Keilor, The last address Frederick Pope lived and where he died. The home Pop built and loved.