Francis Claude Soldi

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 27/02/2016 - 10:19

First Name:

Francis

Middle Name:

Claude

Last Name:

Soldi

Date of Birth:

Wednesday, February 1, 1888

Mother's Name:

Emma Soldi nee Pickford

Father's Name:

Peter Soldi

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, December 9, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Tuesday, March 17, 1942

Place of Death:

Wollongong Hospital, N.S.W.

Details:

Francis Soldi (Service No 5230) was born at Darlington, N.S.W.

Francis lived at Balgownie, N.S.W. when he enlisted during the Waratah March in Balgownie. He was 28 years old, single, worked as a labourer, and had served 3 years with the Militia.

Francis embarked from Sydney on SS Makarini with 16th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion on 1st April 1916. After a short stop in Egypt he arrived in France and joined 1st Battalion there on 18th June 1916.

July 1916 saw him in hospital with influenza but he returned to his unit in time to take part in the action on the Somme.

Francis served on the Western Front until 9th February 1917 when he was wounded and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of gun shot wounds to his right leg and thigh.

He returned to his unit on 11th July 1917 and served in Belgium.

On 29th October 1917 he was transferred to 2nd Machine Gun Company and served the rest of the war with them.

Francis remained in England for some time after the war and did not return to Australia until April 1920. He was discharged on 20th September 1920.

Francis returned to the Balgownie area where he remained for the rest of his life. His service is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial 1914-1918.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SOLDI FRANCIS CLAUDE