Fredrick McCabe was born at Sofalla, NSW, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. James McCabe of Hudson Street, Granville. He was an active member of the Granville Young Men’s Athletic Club, and in 1913 played for the soccer team, when it secured the premiership of the local soccer competitions. Prior to enlistment, he was employed as a clerk at the Government Saving Bank in Burwood and he had previously served in the 20 Battalion.
At the age of 18 years he joined the AIF, 2 Infantry Battalion, 23 Reinforcements on 7 August 1916 at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds in Moore Park, NSW with the rank of Private. He embarked at Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Benalla’ on 9 November 1916. He went to England and trained at Salisbury Plains until 25 April 1917 when he proceeded to France and was taken on strength. He joined the 2nd Battalion on 11 May 1917.
Sadly, he was killed in action at Polygon Wood, Belgium on 22 September 1917, aged 19 years. He is buried in the Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Belgium. According to the last letter received from him he had not been in the firing line up to 14 September 1917, and could only have been in the conflict for a few days before he was killed.
Corporal E. BURT, 2nd Bn (patient, No 8 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne), reported on 20 November 1917: ‘The date [22 September 1917] but I forget the exact name of the place. He dug in too far, gas was coming over at the time and he put his gas helmet on. The shell fell and he was buried by the earth. When we dug him out he was dead, had been smothered. I buried him about 5 yards away from the trench where he was killed and put a rough cross up. I sent his full effects home to his mother whose address I forget but it was somewhere in N.S.W. He was about 5ft 5, fair, 19 years. This was his first time in the front line.’