Frank Myales

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Millasin, South Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 8 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5kg); fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair
Occupation	farmer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Narrogin, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Peter Myales
Military Information
Reg Number	7787
Date of Enlistment	18 Jun 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 26th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	1 Aug 1917 - 21 Sep 1917 to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Date of Embarkation	21 Sep 1917 - 3 Oct 1917 to Liverpool
Ship Embarked On	SS Orita
Date of Return	20 Dec 1919 - 29 Jan 1920
Ship Returned On	HMAT A54 Runic
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Enlisted in Katanning, embarked in Sydney for England.

On arrival in England was posted on 3 Oct 1917 to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford before on 29 Oct 1917 being admitted to St Mary's Hospital Codford with a serious dose of Broncho Pneumonia. On 31 Nov 1917 he was transferred to the 13th Training Battalion, and at Stapleford on 8 Dec 1917 Frank was found to be out of bounds without a pass, and for this he forfeited 3 days pay. On 22 Dec 1917 he went AWOL from 8:00am on the 22nd until he was apprehended by Military Police at Gateley at 11:00am on 24 Dec 1917. For this he was awarded 10 days Field Punishment No 2. In custody awaiting trial for 2 days and therefore forfeited 15 days pay.

Frank proceeded overseas through Southampton on 16 Jan 1918, and after a period spent with the base depot in Le Havre, he joined the 16th Battalion on 26 Jan 1918. Frank was again AWOL, this time from 2:00pm on 14 Feb 1918 until noon 16 Feb 1918, with punishment consisting of 7 days Field Punishment No.2, and loss of 11 days pay.

On 21 Feb 1918 Frank presented to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance, sick. Forwarded the same day to the 7th General Hospital in St Omer he was found to be suffering with mumps. Released to isolation on 24 Apr 1918, it was late May before he was again fit for duty, and before that he was again facing military discipline. On 23 May 1918 he was found to be in town (10 without a pass, and (2) improperly dressed. Dealt with on 25 Mar 1918, he was awarded the loss of 16 days pay.

Four days late he was again in hospital, this time with Pleurisy, and admitted to the 2nd General Hospital in Le Havre. On 10 Jun 1918 he was embarked on HMHS Grantully Castle for England where he entered the Horton Co of London War Hospital in Epsom. After treatment he was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 26 Jun 1918, where he was granted furlough from 28 Jun 1918 until 12 Jul 1918 and then to report to No 1 Command depot in Sutton Veny. Yes, he was late arriving there, being AWOL from 11:00am 12 Jul 1918 until 11:30 am 15 Jul 1918. Penalty was the loss of 6 days pay.

At Sutton Veny he was charged with being AWOL from 2:00pm 5 Aug 1918 until 9:45pm on 9 Aug 1918, but on this occasion the charge was dismissed as this was when, on 7 Aug 1918 he was married to 30 year old widow Alice Maud Grace from Salisbury.

However, Frank's luck didn't last and when he went AWOL again, from 6:00pm on 29 Aug 1918 until he was apprehended at 10:00pm on 6 Sep 1918. This time he was awarded 27 days Field Punishment No.2, and forfeiture of 36 days pay. In addition he was transferred back to the 12th Training Battalion at Hurdcott where he was again AWOL from 8:30am on 2 Aug 1918 until 2:00pm on 4 Oct 1918. AWOL from Defaulter's parade on 5 Oct 1918 he was awarded 14 days detention and loss of pay.

The punishment must have been waived to allow Frank to return to France, as on 10 Oct 1918 he was sent overseas to France through Folkestone. Although back in a declared war area, Frank was soon AWOL again, this time in Rouelles from 6:00am to 7:30am on 12 Oct 1918. Another 3 days pay forfeited.

Frank rejoined the 16th Battalion on 15 Oct 1918, but on 7 Nov 1918 he was AWOL from 7:00am until 12:30pm for which his punishment was 7 days Field Punishment No.1, and forfeiture of 21 days pay.

AWOL from 1 Feb till 22 Feb 1919 when he was sent sick to the 4th Australian Filed Ambulance who passed him to the 14th Stationary Hospital to deal with his mumps. On 17 Mar 1919 he was transferred to the 12th Convalescent Depot, but was soon back in hospital, this time with influenza. Transferred to England on 13 Apr 1919, he entered the Military Hospital at Bethel Green where he was treated for measles. released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 16 Apr 1919. Discharged from 3rd AAH, he was granted leave until 26 May 1919. More leave was granted on 16 Aug 1919

Discharged by 5th Military District on 6 Mar 1920.

Notes

NOK Father lived at No 1 Mill, Jarrahdale.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial