Frederick Lancelot Giles

son of Henry Arthur Giles

Frederick Lancelot Giles was born 1891 at Mount Pleasant, South Australia, son of Henry Arthur and Eleanor Rowena Giles (nee Owen). He enlisted in World War 1, and served in the Australian Remount Unit 2, Squadron 7, at Brisbane, Queensland. His unit embarked from Sydney, NSW. Unfortunately he suffered mumps whilst in Egypt, and continued to suffer illness throughout his service. He returned to Australia in 1919, going AWOL at Fremantle, Western Australia, before returning to South Australia. He is commemorated on the Mount Pleasant Soldiers Memorial Hall Honor Board, the Presbyterian and Anglican Church Honor Boards.

Lancelot married Florence Vera Gardner in 1920 and they had two children.

Lancelot died 1923.

Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 – 1954), Monday 2 July 1923, page 1

SHOOTING FATALITY.

ADELAIDE, Sunday.- F. Lancelot Giles of Mount Pleasant lost hls life on Friday morning as a result of a gun accident. He went out rabbit shooting alone and as some hours later he had not returned his relatives became anxious. A search was made but as not a trace of the missing man could be found a search party was formed. About midnight the body of Giles was found near old Mount Crawford polo grounds within about 200 hundred of his home.

Circumstances pointed to his having attempted to get through a fence with a loaded gun with a result that the triggers got caught by a knot in the wire as both barrels had been discharged simultaneously. The unfortunate man’s head was nearly blown off. Giles, who was in his thirty-second year, left a widow and two young children.

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954), Friday 6 July 1923, page 3

MOUNT PLEASANT.

… The late Mr. Giles was the youngest son of Mr. H. A. Giles, and was in his 32nd year, born and brought up in the district, and was well known. He was regarded as a great worker, with a quiet, unassuming manner.

For nearly five years he had served with the A.I.F. on active service, and on his return had settled in the Mount, and about a year ago took up farming a few miles out of the town. The members of the sub-branch of the Imperial League, under Captain H. Williams, accorded the deceased a military funeral, and acted as bearers last Sunday afternoon, when the funeral took place at St. John’s Cemetery. A large number attended to pay their last tribute of respects to one who had received such a quick call home. The service at the grave was read by Rev. R. V. S. Adams, of Balhannah (late of Mount Pleasant), and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Maershall, of Birdwood.

Prior to his service in the A.I.F. he was in Queensland and the north-west of the state.

His estate was worth 8,000 pounds.