Henry George Frew (1895 - 1957)

Harry Frew is an Anzac who served in World War One.

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Harry Frew is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Biography

Henry was born in 1895. He was the forth child of David Frew and Sarah Curran. He passed away in 1957. ^[1]

Ever since he was very young, he has always been known as Harry,.

Overseas Journey

It was shortly after Harry's birth, that his parents decided to go to New Zealand, they stayed there for about two or three years, it was long enough, that when they returned to Australia, the family had grown by one. Harry had a new brother named John Edward, John would be the only child to be born out of Australia. ^[2]

On his return, Harry would remain at Hillgrove, New South Wales, at least until he finished his schooling, the school he attended is one of the few buildings still standing today, It has now been converted into the Hillgrove museum, the rest of the to town was dismantled and the buildings sold off and/or erected elsewhere, such as the Catholic Church, where it was erected in Dangarsleigh, New South Wales, just south of Armidale, New South Wales, where it still stands today; It is believed that the Anglican Church was moved to Armidale, New South Wales, but was later destroyed by fire.

Harry enlisted in the army during the World War I, and served as a private for the three years and served overseas. He was wounded in action, he received a gunshot wound to the left knee, he also contracted a disease, that most Soldiers did at that time, influenza ^[3][4]

After the Army

After WWI, Harry trained as a Piano tuner in the Blue Mountains, Katoomba, and Sydney, for a company called Palings, ^[5]. before opening his own Music Business in Cowra, New South Wales. during this time he met and married Sadie Crawford. He worked as a Piano tuner and shop owner, until the great depression and because piano tuning was a frivolity, during that time, although he kept the shop ably run by his wife, Sadie, while he worked on the local council, when the Government supplied funds to extend water and sewage to the town of Cowra, New South Wales, as Cowra was where one of Military Training Camps was located.

Harry didn't play the piano but had a fine musical ear, so much so that when customer heard him run his finger through some chords, they thought that he was a pianist of some repute. his tuning was so good, he had references from Professional Piano Players praising his ability to tune a piano.

War again

In 1940 he joined the C. M. F. ^[6] and with the prospect of war inevitable he re-enlisted in 1940, to serve again in World War II, starting as a private than later appointed as a corporal, and transferred to Area Command at Cowra, New South Wales, where he received his last promotion to Lance Sergeant ^[7] in the Railway Transport Office there, many a solder knew him well, as he saw them off, many for were heading for overseas duty. Harry was discharged in 1945 and continued working in his music shop still being looked after by his loving wife.

Final months

Harry retired in 1956, So he and Sadie, went to live in Cooma, New South Wales, where his only son, George ran a variety of businesses, however, his retirement would not be enjoyed, as he was seriously injured in a car accident, that would leave him a paraplegic for three month before he passed away in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on March 23, 1957, he was cremated and his ashes were interred at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, he was survived by his wife, three daughters, and his only son ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Information as gathered by Paul Curran, Tuesday, May 27, 2014.
2. ↑ The Death of his Uncle, Archey Frew, who had been killed in a mining accident, on November 10, 1897, may have been the reason for their early return.
3. ↑ commonly known as Miners Disease but was later referred to as the Spanish Flu
4. ↑ read about influenza during 1918
5. ↑ A big Business in the music industry
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial - Conscription during the Second World War, 1939–45
7. ↑ Digger History - The Rank of Lance Sergeant is one that is no longer used by the Military today
8. ↑ One of whom would write a book about the Frew Family Tree called The Quest.

See also:

• Records Search - National Archives of Australia - Harry Frew Military Record
• The Limited Edition book - The Quest by Jean Brien
• New South Wales Births, Deaths, and Marriages Online Index
• Ryerson index online
• From the Page of Lynda Gray ANZAC Day Poem