Frederick Horace RIPPER

Company Sergeant Major Frederick Ripper
12th Battalion, The Australian Imperial Force

Company Sergeant Major Ripper (Reg No: 134), born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1895, was working as a mill-hand when he joined the 12th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force in August 1914. He set sail with his battalion in October 1914, seeing action at Gallipoli, where he was assigned to a trench mortar battery. He was wounded for the first time during the fighting in the Dardanelles, but was able to return to his battalion after treatment. The following months saw Frederick promoted through the ranks, from Private to Lance-Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant and eventually to Company Sergeant Major. By 1917, Frederick was in action in Belgium and France and it was there that he was seriously wounded in March 1918. Bullet wounds to his chest, arm and hand led to the amputation of his arm. Frederick chose not to have a prosthesis fitted.

During his recuperation, Frederick was cared for at the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Southall, West London, which is where he helped to make the St Paul’s altar frontal.

By January 1919, he was well enough to return to Australia and set off for home on the Hospital Ship Kanowna. He was discharged from the AIF in July 1919 and shortly afterwards married his wife, Inez. Frederick and Inez lived for many happy years in Victoria where Frederick worked for the Government (Department of Agriculture) as an inspector/officer, but eventually returned to Tasmania, where Frederick died in 1947.

Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 1
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 2
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 3
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 4
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 5
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 6
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 7
Ripper, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Horace - papers 8