Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Langborne was my second cousin. He was my grandfather's nephew. My grandfather was William Langborne. I remember meeting Frank - we called him Frankie - as a very tiny girl. My grandfather told me that Frankie had been taken prisoner by the Japanese during his service in Singapore. Frankie told my grandfather that he was glad he was small of stature as the Japanese meted out the most punishment to the tall Australian men. I knew that Frankie did not live a long life. Frank served in the 2/20 Battalion in the Australian Army. He was found on the 9th September 1945 in the Naoetsu POW Camp in Niigata Prefecture, Japan and repatriated. To the best of my knowledge Frankie married Helen Cormie Langborne and they had five children. Sadly, Frankie passed away on the 15th December 1975 at the young age of 55 years. My Grandfather (Bill Langborne) told me Frankie's death was caused by the deprivation he suffered during his time as a POW. When I was small and met Frankie, my name was Jill Anne Braby. Vale Frankie.
Jill James