Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Captain FRANK H. HANCOCK, who was killed inaction in France on April 24, was the only son of Mrs. E. Hancock, of Stromnell, Glenelg, and brother of Staff-Nurse Laura Hancock, stationed at Salonika. He left a responsible position in the timekeeping department of the Central mine, Broken Hill, where he had been employed for a number of years. He sailed from Australia during April, 1915, in command of the 5th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion, with the rank of lieutenant. He and his men were almost immediately sent to Gallipoli, where he remained for four months before he was invalided to England. His illness lasted for three months, after which he went to Egypt. He and his men were known as 'the travelling circus,' owing to the rapidity of their movements. After three laborious months his services were rewarded by promotion to captain, and he was mentioned in dispatches. During March, 1916, Captain Hancock was transferred to France, where he received a bullet wound in the thigh four months later. Within a month he returned to duty, and remained until January, 1917, when he was sent to England, after having been once more 'mentioned.' For the following six months he was stationed at Codford as second in command of the 13th Training Battalion. These duties necessitated several journeys to France on special duty. In August, 1917, Captain Hancock returned to the trenches, and was there continuously (during the last few months as adjutant and acting major), until he met his death. He came of an old English family, the members of which have served their country well for many generations. He was the great nephew of the 14th Admiral Sir Henry Chad, and nephew of Colonel Hancock, of the Indian Army. Captain Hancock was widely known in athletic circles, and he always 'played the game.'

Source: Chronicle (Adelaide) Saturday 22 June 1918