Frederick Henry Schwarz

Service number: 80

Rank: Private

Unit: 1st Field Ambulance

Service:

Date of death:

Cemetery or memorial details:

War Grave Register notes:

Source: National Archives of Australia

Fredereick Schwarz was the son of Edward Franz Schwarz and Ada Clissold Schwarz (nee Sievwright) and was born at Carlton, near Melbourne in 1889 [1]. His parents married at Sydney in 1896 [2]. Frederick Henry Schwarz, aged 24, wool expert, was listed on the WWI Embarkation Roll. He enlisted on 26 August 1914, and served with the 1st Field Ambulance (AMC) A Section. His age at enlistment may be incorrect – it was given as 24 and 10 months, which would mean he was born in November 1889, but the family’s entry in the 1891 Census only recorded one male at the address.

He changed his name to Fred Campbell circa 1918. In the WWI Nominal Roll the entry for Fred Schwarz was crossed out, and replaced with an entry for no 80, Frederick Campbell. He returned to Australia on 13 October 1918. His mother also changed her name to Campbell, and lived in Victoria after the war [3].

F Campbell was one of the race-winners at the Soldiers’ Club Swimming Carnival held at Coogee Aquarium in March 1919, along with other Manly contemporaries such as Fitz Lough and Robert Miller; he won the Gallipoli Cup [4].

He married in 1920 Caroline Elena Doris McMullen (Dot).Fritz Schwarz, 1912. Heroes of the SurfA funeral notice for Frederick Campbell (of Sydney) appeared in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin 16 February 1927, p8. He was buried in Rockhampton Cemetery [5].

Robin Seager, a niece of Fred Campbell, provided copies of two cuttings about him (14.03.07):Unnamed newspaper, undated:

“Gamest feat I ever saw was done at Cape Hellas. Our unit had been helping the British, and were on the beach embarking on the minesweeper to return to Anzac, when Jacko shelled the beach with every sort of projectile it is possible to imagine. The beach was in charge of a Commander RN, and he ordered everyone to run for cover. He waited behind to see that all was clear, and got caught, a shell bursting too close – blowing his leg off. Immediately he fell, Sergt-Major Wally Neve and Private Fred Campbell grabbed a stretcher, and, rushing out into the inferno, got the officer under cover in time to save him from bleeding to death. – “No 10”.

Obituary notice, (probably Manly Daily, date not given, but probably February 1927):

 “Death of Fred Campbell Members of local life-saving clubs will regret to hear of the death on Tuesday of Fred Campbell at Rockhampton, Queensland, from pneumonia, after only a few days’ illness. Fred was the first captain of the Manly Life-Saving Club, and one of the most consistent voluntary life-savers on the beach. He was a member of all of the teams that won renown for the club and was a great factor in promoting the best interests of the club, and instructing members in life-saving in the surf. Fred Campbell was among the first to enlist for active service in the Great War, in which every member of the club who was eligible followed. For his services to the club he was made a life member, and the club will mourn his loss. A wreath from the club will be placed on the coffin, as a mark of the deepest respect.” There are several photos of him on the Worsley family tree on Ancestry.com (2014).The photo is mis-captioned T H Schwarz.

[1] Victorian Federation Index 1889-1901, reg no 29208R; SMH 21 Dec 1918.

[2] NSW BDM 2199/1896.

[3] SMH 21 Dec 1918; Electoral Roll 1924.

[4] SMH 27 March 1919, p5.

[5] Queensland BDM 1927/C943.