Francis William Madden

Francis “Frank” William Madden was born at Bulli, 1895. He and the family moved to “Bray Side Farm” on Brokers Road, Mount Pleasant (Balgownie) in 1905. He was the Great Grandson of John Madden who arrived from Ireland in 1850 and after whom Madden’s Plains were named. After completing his schooling, he was employed by the Irrigation Committee at Leeton. It was from there that he enlisted on 7 August 1915 at Cootamundra and joined the 4th Infantry Battalion, 12th Reinforcements. According to the National Australian Archives, Frank served in the 37th Infantry for four years prior to the war.

Frank was home on leave when the Waratah March from Nowra to Sydney arrived at Balgownie. His father William Madden, mayor of North Illawarra at the time, welcomed the march. The following morning, Frank and several other Balgownie boys joined the March for the rest of the march to Sydney. He embarked on 30 December 1915 aboard HMAT Medic for France. He was promoted Lance Corporal on 4 August and killed in action during the attack on the Mouquet Farm, Pozieres on 19 August 1916 aged 21. He is commemorated at the Villers Bretonneux Memorial, France, Balgownie War Memorial and Canberra War Memorial.

On 31 July, 1916, Frank wrote letters to his parents which were subsequently published in the South Coast Times. He was killed 19 days later.

Frank's service & sacrifice are commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial.