Frank Grundy
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1891 |
| Place of Birth | Derby, England |
| Death | 25 May 1973, aged 82 |
| Place of Death | Greenmount, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 9 months |
| Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall; weight 160 lbs (72.6kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. |
| Occupation | hospital attendant |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Whitby Falls Hospital, Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs May Grundy |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1278 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 Jul 1915 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 32nd Battalion D Company, transferred to 14th Field Artillery Brigade, 53rd Battery / 5th Division. |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Nov 1915 - 18 Dec 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A13 Katuna |
| Date of Return | 15 Feb 1918 - 8 Apr 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Llanstephan Castle |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action; Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Mundijong Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
22 Years old, Frank emigrated to Australia from London aboard the SS Australind which arrived in Fremantle on 6 Sep 1913. Pre enlistment he was working as an attendant at the Whitby Falls Hospital.
War Service
Within a month of entering camp, Frank was allocated to D Company of the 32nd Battalion, and was promoted to Lance Corporal. The 32nd Battalion was a combination of WA and SA enlistees, and on 28 Nov 1915 the WA companies embarked on HMAT A13 Katuna for Egypt.
On 14 Mar 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir, Frank reverted to Private and the next day transferred to the 53rd Battery of the 14th Field Artillery Brigade, who on 20 Jun 1916 boarded HMT Huntsend aka SS Lutzow fro Marseilles, arriving there on 30 Jun 1916.
During February 1917, Frank was granted leave in England, after which he was posted to the School of Instruction from 1 - 23 Jun 1917. On 30 Sep 1917 Frank was seen first by the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance who sent him on the next day to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, who in turn handed him over to the 57th General Hospital. Physically uninjured he was suffering from shell shock caused severe concussion and being buried alive by a shell burst.
Diagnosed with a severe case of Neurasthenia he was evacuated to England by the HS Jan Breydel. Arriving there on 29 Oct 1917 he was admitted to the Military Hospital Eastbourne. On 23 Nov 1917 he was discharged to the care of the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. This unit specialised in treating war-related nerves and neurosis. While in the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital he was granted furlough from 13 - 27 Dec 1917, before reporting to No. 2 Command Base Depot at Weymouth to prepare for his return to Australia. At some point during this time he married, as his NOK changed to wife May Grundy from his father.
Discharged 5th Military District 29 Apr 1918
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1921 - 1949 farm hand at Wooroloo Sanatorium with May; 1954 - 1963 at 1 Old York road, Greenmount, farm hand; 1968 - 1972 at 21 Old York road, Greenmount, small land holder.
May died 20 Dec 1980 in Burwood, Victoria aged 88.
Notes