Frank Myales
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth |
not known "not known" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation. |
| Place of Birth | Millasin, South Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 28 years, 8 months |
| Description |
5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; 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 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic to Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Date of Embarkation | 21 Sep 1917 ‒ 3 Oct 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Orita to Liverpool |
| Date of Return | 20 Dec 1919 ‒ 29 Jan 1920 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A54 Runic |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Enlisted in Katanning and allocated to the 26th Reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. Frank embarked in Sydney for England aboard HMAT A7 Medic on 1 Aug 1917. On 21 Sep 1917 he transferred from the Medic to the SS Orita in Halifax. Nova Scotia, eventually disembarking in Liverpool on 3 Oct 1917.
On arrival in England Frank was posted 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 day's pay. On 22 Dec 1917 he went AWOL from 8:00am 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. As he had been in custody awaiting trial for 2 days, he 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 the loss of 11 day's pay. On 21 Feb 1918 Frank presented sick to the 4th Field Ambulance. 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 (1) without a pass, and (2) improperly dressed. Dealt with on 25 May 1918, he was awarded the loss of 16 day's pay.
Four days later 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 County of London War Hospital in Epsom. After treatment he was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 26 Jun 1918, and was granted furlough from 28 Jun 1918 until 12 Jul 1918 with orders 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. The penalty was the loss of 6 day's 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 he was awarded 27 day's Field Punishment No. 2, and the forfeiture of 36 day's pay. In addition he was transferred back to the 12th Training Battalion at Hurdcott where he was AWOL from 8:30am on 2 Oct 1918 until 2:00pm on 4 Oct 1918. AWOL from Defaulter's parade on 5 Oct 1918 he was awarded 14 days detention and the 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. For this he forfeited another 3 day's pay. 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 of Field Punishment No. 1, and forfeiture of 21 day's pay. AWOL from 1 Feb till 22 Feb 1919 when he was sent sick to the 4th Field Ambulance who then 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, he was released on leave from 12 - 26 May 1919. More leave was granted on 16 Aug 1919, and it wasn't until 20 Dec 1919 that Tom and his wife sailed for Australia. Back in Australia he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 6 Mar 1920.
Post War
Notes
NOK Father lived at No 1 Mill, Jarrahdale.