Fred READING
Born 11 April 1907 [P144] in Saint Pancas, London, England [20]
Son of George Langley READING and Louisa DRAPER [20] [21]
In 1911 was living with his parents, brother and his mother's aunt Ann DRAPER at 210 Wellmeadow Road, Lewisham in London [20]
He served in the 17th Battalion London Volunteer Regiment in 1918 and 1919 during the First World War [P144]
After the war, on 16 February 1920, he enlisted in the Territorial Force, which was the reserves of the British Army [P144]
Departed London, England on the steamship Hobsons Bay and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 29 April 1926 [63]
Shortly after arrival joined his elder brother Dick on Wellmeadow Farm at Five Gums in Carnamah [P144]
He went into partnership with his brother and together they farmed under the name of "Reading Bros" [P144]
Farmer of Wellmeadow Farm at Five Gums in Carnamah in partnership with his brother Dick as "Reading Bros" 1926-1955 [60] [P144]
The farm was 1,241 acres in size and consisted of Lots M984 and M991 of Victoria Location 2022 [3]
In 1926 they harvested 749 bags of wheat and carted 423 bags to the nearest railway siding over 17 miles away [7: page 71]
They employed the services of local builder Charles J. DALLIMORE to build them a four roomed house on the farm [P144]
Their parents left England in 1927 [63] and on arrival in Western Australia joined them on Wellmeadow Farm in Carnamah[P144]
Initially their father helped them on the farm, and then resided on the farm throughout his retirement [5: 30-Apr-1943]
In 1932 they owned a Chevrolet truck registered with the Carnamah District Road Board with license plate CA-242 [4: 12-Nov-1932]
"Reading Bros" were Financial Members of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society in 1932 [13]
The local newspaper revealed on 25 August 1933 that goods had arrived for them at the Carnamah railway station [5: 25-Aug-1933]
They travelled to Perth by train on 12 October 1933 and returned to Carnamah on 18 October 1933 [5: 13-Oct-1933, 20-Oct-1933]
Sold 100 sheep through Westralian Farmers with three consignments to the Midland Market in 1935 [5: 26-Jul-1935, 6-Sep-1935, 15-Nov-1935]
The 100 sheep comprised 57 suckers (25 at 16/7, 24 at 14/1, 8 at 11/4), 5 ewes at 11/4, 38 shorn wethers (37 at 7/4, 1 at 5/4) [5]
Sold six bales of wool at 15d. per pound through Elder Smith & Co Ltd at the Wool Sale in Perth on 7 October 1935 [5: 11-Oct-1935]
They sold 18 ewes at 9/7 per head through Westralian Farmers at the Midland Market on Wednesday 5 February 1936 [5: 7-Feb-1936]
They purchased a new 1936 model Commer truck from Carnamah agent and mechanic D. Standish O'GRADY [5: 6-Mar-1936]
Sold five pigs at 22/- per head through Dalgety & Co Ltd at the Midland Market on Wednesday 11 March 1936 [5: 13-Mar-1936]
Sold 6 suckers at 12/1, 5 lambs at 6/1, and 29 shorn ewes at 7/1 per head at the Midland Market in September 1936 [5: 18-Sep-1936]
They had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son in 1937 [53]
Sold 7 lambs at 13/4 and 48 ewes (15 at 12/10, 33 at 12/4) through Elder Smith & Co Ltd in early in 1937 [5: 8-Jan-1937, 12-Mar-1937]
By 1941 they had obtained the telephone on the farm, and were telephone number Carnamah-17R from 1941 to 1955 [60]
They later purchased another farm in Three Springs which they named Darenth after River Darenth in England [P144]
He initially resided on Wellmeadow Farm in Carnamah and later on their Darenth Farm in Three Springs [P144]
Attended the wedding dance for Alexander J. F. BROWN and Clara V. BERRIGAN in Carnamah on 28 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
He was among those who attended the Centenary Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on 26 July 1929 [86: 3-Aug-1929]
The ball was to celebrate 100 years since the founding of Perth and the establishment of the Swan River Colony [86]
Attended the Plain and Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 8 August 1929 [4: 17-Aug-1929]
Member of the Inering Bridge Club in 1930 [4: 4-Oct-1930]
Member of the Inering Cricket Club in 1930-31 [4: 22-Nov-1930]
Member of the East Carnamah Cricket Club in 1932-33 [5: 28-Oct-1932]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1932-1941 [13]
Attended the Carnamah Basketball Club's Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 29 July 1933 [5: 4-Aug-1933]
Attended the Carnamah Church of England's New Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 December 1933 [5: 5-Jan-1934]
Attended the Dance conducted by the Carnamah Toc H at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 24 February 1934 [5: 2-Mar-1934]
On the evening of Thursday 15 March 1934 attended the Carnamah Race Club's Annual Dance at the Carnamah Hall [5: 16-Mar-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Grand Opening Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 12 May 1934 [5: 18-May-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Roman Catholic Church's Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 26 May 1934 [5: 1-Jun-1934]
Attended the Inering School Dance held at the Carnamah Hall to raise money for books on Saturday 21 July 1934 [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Attended the Dance in aid of the Institute for the Blind held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday evening 18 August 1934 [5: 24-Aug-1934]
Member of the Five Gums Tennis Club 1936-1942 and 1946-1950 [89]
he was Committee Member, Secretary and Treasurer 1939-1942 and Auditor 1946-1949 [0: image 03852] [89]
Attended the meeting at Five Gums on 10 March 1937 to discuss the establishment of a state school at Five Gums, Carnamah [278]
Private in the local Volunteer Defence Corps during the Second World War [16]
Married (1) "Fay" [P144] Fanny CAIN in Perth in 1944 [66]
In the mid 1950s he sold his share in their farms to his brother Dick and retired to Perth [P144]
His first wife, late of the Perth suburb of Como, passed away at the age of 56 years on 27 December 1964 [2]
Married (2) Ruth [P144]
Resided of late in the Perth suburb of Bentley [2]
Died 19 March 1990; ashes dispersed at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia [2]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Fred Reading' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/fred-reading [reference list] |
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