Pte
Frederick Olsen

Information about birth

Date of birth:
21/09/1886
Place of birth:
Nambour, Queensland, Australia

General information

Profession:
Labourer

Army information

Country:
Australia
Force:
Australian Imperial Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
2484A
Enlistment date:
7/06/1916
Enlistment place:
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Units:
 —  Australian Infantry, 47th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
12/10/1917
Place of death:
Decline Copse, Passchendaele, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
31

Cemetery

Poelcapelle British Cemetery
Plot: VII
Row: E
Grave: 1

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Private Frederick Olsen served in the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division. On October 12, the 12th Australian Brigade fought in the First Battle of Passchendaele, one of the final phases of the Third Battle of Ypres.
On October 12, the 12th Brigade was ordered to protect the right flank of the 3th Australian Division, which was the main force, with the village of Passchendaele as its objective. The 47th Battalion attacked in the early morning with the 48th in their rear. The 9th Brigade to the left started the attack behind them, forcing the 48th to defend their left flank as well. Because of this and the heavy fighting, the two battalions of the 12th got intermingled. They reached their objective and after consolidation, a large German counterattack, of about 1000 soldiers strong, advanced towards the right flank, held by the 47th. They repelled the counterattack with artillery and machinegun fire. A second counterattack followed during which a SOS signal was sent for an artillery barrage. No artillery shells were fired but the German attack was repelled by heavy machinegun and rifle fire. Because the 9th Brigade, 3th Australian Division on the left failed to advance and retired, the 47th and 48th had to retreat to the initial frontline.
Private Olsen’s body was found near Decline Copse in the vicinity of the railway, which was the boundary between the 3th and 4th Australian Division. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, but he probably fell either during the early attack, when the 47th was advancing towards the first objective, or when they were retreating in the afternoon. In 1923, private Olsen’s remains were reinterred on the Poelcapelle British Cemetery.

Files 1

Sources 8

"Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 Vol. IV The A.I.F. in France 1917", C. E. W. Bean, Angus and Robertson Ltd., 1943, 923-6.
Sources used
"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 113-4.
Sources used
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/
Sources used
National Archives of Australia
http://naa.gov.au/
Sources used
The AIF Project
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/aif/
Sources used
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Sources used
War Diary A.I.F. 12th Brigade
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used