Military History

Frank is listed as dying of wounds on 8 May 1918 at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station which was stationed at St. Omer. On the 18th May 1918 the Warwick Advertiser announced his death and stated that he was wounded on 26 April 1918. The 3rd Battalion war diary enty for that day is transcribed below and it is clear that Frank was wounded during a counter-attack on the village of Kemmel.

25^th April 1918 – Hoograff: 8.30pm: Orders received to move to vicinity of La Clytte and wait there for orders

26^th April 1918 – La Clytte: 1.30am: Orders received that the Bn would counter-attack the next morning in the direction of Kemmel village.

3am: Bn commenced counter-attack with A & D Coys in front, C Coy in support and B Coy in reserve. Barrage very poor, country very difficult. First objective taken with practically no casualties. Leading companies reached second objective (Kemmel Village) but right flank held up owing to French not advancing.

7am: 7^th Inf Bde came up on our left but fell back without our knowledge, leaving our left flank in the air. Being thus exposed to cross machine-gun fire from both flanks, the position was untenable & under cover of the mist the Bde was withdrawn to the line of the railway behind Kemmelbeke stream where it proceeded to reorganise & dig in.

During the counter-attack 7 officers became casualties

Bn held line of railway running during the day. Shelling very heavy, especially during the afternoon. END