In February 1916 Frank was an 18 year old baker living and working at Longford. On being accepted into the First A.I.F. he was allotted to the 1st reinforcements for the newly formed 40th Battalion, Tasmania’s own battalion. He departed the state with the main contingent on the HMAT A35 Berrima on 1st July 1916.
His service could best be described as one where he had lengthy times in hospital in Le Havre and Rouelles, France, interspersed with periods at ‘the front’. He managed to avoid being wounded. On 9th April he was marched out to England for eventual return to Australia which did not take place until October 1919.
In January 1922 he joined the Royal Australian Navy signing on for 12 years. Unfortunately he appears to have been invalided out in December 1923 having served on the Cerebus, Sydney, Brisbane and Penguin.
On 6th November 1926 he married Ruby Butt. The couple had four children, their first born son, Peter dying as a baby.
During World War 2 Frank once again volunteered for service. At this time he was working as a railway labourer. He enlisted on 20th November 1939 and by November 1941 had been promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 11 with the 6th Garrison Battalion. At the end of January 1943 now a Lieutenant, he was granted his release, now medically unfit. Frank died at the Launceston General Hospital on 17 March 1943 having served Australia in both times of war and of peace.
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