Embarkation Roll.
Frank Archibald March
First Name:
Frank
Middle Name:
Archibald
Last Name:
March
Date of Birth:
Friday, October 26, 1894
Mother's Name:
Beatrice Richards (nee Hay)
Date Enlisted:
Wednesday, April 4, 1917
Rank at Enlistment:
Private
Unit:
20th Reinforcement
Company:
18th Battalion
Service:
Infantry
Awards:
1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death:
Wednesday, January 25, 1961
Details:
Frank March (Service No 6798) was born at Waratah, Newcastle, N.S.W. in 1894. He attended Hurlstone Agricultural College in Sydney. When he enlisted in Sydney on 4 April 1917, he was 22 years old and engaged in farming at Cordeaux River, Mount Kembla, N.S.W.
Frank embarked from Sydney with the 20th Reinforcement, 18th Battalion, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 16 June 1917. The troops disembarked at Plymouth, England, on 25 August 1917.
Frank served in England and on the Western Front, in France and Belgium, until the cessation of hostilities, continuing to serve until April 1919. He embarked in Plymouth to return to Australia on 19 June 1919 on board the 'Miltiades'.
After his return, Frank was very active in the Returned Soldier's League, and while serving as President of that organisation had the honour of escorting Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II into a reception in Wollongong during the Royal Visit of 1954.
On 11 October, 1919, Frank married Jane Parsons, and the family lived and worked on Frank's farm at Cordeaux River, N.S.W.
Frank was a respected and prominent member of the community, a dairy farmer, haulage contractor, and an Alderman on Wollongong City Council. He was a keen cricketer, and helped transport the Cordeaux cricket team in matches held in other areas. This was in the days when it was not usual for everyone to have their own transport.
Frank moved from Cordeaux River to Unanderra somewhere around 1950.
Frank died on 25 January 1961, at the age of 66 years. He is buried in Wollongong, N.S.W.
Sources:
NAA: B2455 MARCH FRANK ARCHIBALD
