Veteran Story: Frederick 'Fred' Meredith (1895-1959), was born in Georgetown, far north Queensland to Richard Meredith and Lillian Downs, and volunteered to serve in May 1917. Meredith trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera, and was alloted to the 8th Reinforcements for the 41st Infantry Battalion, which embarked for overseas in June 1917. The 41st Battalion included several other identified Indigenous servicemen - Augustus Davies, Alfred Jones, Billy Richards, Percy Harward, Wilfred Clayton, and William Exton. Meredith joined his battalion in the field in May 1918, taking part in the German offensive on the Somme in August - engaged at Sailly-le-Sec and Curlew. After suffering gas poisoning he was evacuated to hospital in Rouen, then to England where he spent several months recuperating before returning to Australia in February 1919. Meredith married Rose Baxton when he returned, they resided in Cairns and later Charters Towers, and raised 8 children. Fred Meredith was employed as a grounds man in Charters Towers for many years
