Topic: BW - NSW - Lancers
New South Wales Lancers
Roll of Honour
Frederick Avard
Frederick Avard's name on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
Frederick Avard
Service number: 507
Rank: Trooper [Tpr]
Unit: NSW Lancers
Service: Colonial Military Forces
Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902
Date of death: 10 October 1900
Place of death: Carolina, South Africa
Cause of death: Died of wounds
Source: AWM142 Roll of Honour cards, War in South Africa, 1899-1902
A brief military biography of Frederick Avard:
| Regimental number | 507 |
| Date of birth | 1879 |
| Place of birth | Maitland, NSW |
| Religion | |
| Occupation | |
| Address | Maitland, NSW |
| Marital status | Single |
| Previous Service | Maitland High School - 4 years |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Next of kin | Sister: Elizabeth Avard, Maitland, NSW |
| Enlistment date | 1896 |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Rank on enlistment | Trooper |
| Unit name | NSW Lancers |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from London, UK, on board Nineveh on 10 October 1899 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Trooper |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | NSW Lancers |
| Fate | Died of Wounds, 10 October 1900 |
| Place of burial | Ermelo Garden of Rememberance |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 1 |
| Miscellaneous information | Wounded in action, 4 September 1900 |
Lest We Forget
Further Items
Frederick Avard after being presented with the Gold Medal for best shot in the Regiment.
Major Lee's Letter
Major Lee, Officer Commanding the NSW Lancers wrote the following passage about Frederick Avard to Major General French at Victoria Barracks, Paddington.
Frederick Avard went to England with the NSW Lancers and on the voyage home, as war broke out, Major Lee offered his force for service. Those who did not wish to serve in South Africa signed a blue slip declaring that he was not willing to serve in South Africa. However, despite signing that slip, Frederick Avard appears to have taken part in the fight at Graspan in December 1899 under the command of Lieutenant Osborne as part of 29 reinforcements to the 9th Lancers. This group was known as The Fighting 28.
On 4 September 1900 at Welgelegen near Belfast, Lieutenant Heron and six men were sent out on a patrol to seize an important hill that overlooked the Komati River. During an engagement with the Boers, Frederick Avard's horse was shot and shortly afterwards, he too was severely wounded with a bullet through a kidney. His wounds required that he be left behind. He was evacuated by the Boers to Carolina where he died as a Prisoner of War.
Lest we forget
Further Reading:
The NSW Lancers, The Fighting 28
Citation: New South Wales Lancers, Roll of Honour, Frederick Avard
