Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Frank Purcell (Service No:NX68790) initially served in the Citizens Air Force (CAF) as an Aircraftman I (Service No:205055) with No 1 Squadron - mustered as Tailor - and was posted to the Non Effective List on 28 January 1927. Private Purcell enlisted in the AIF on 5 March 1941 - mustered as Driver - and was attached to 3rd Motor Transport Coy on 10 April 1941 when he embarked with his Unit for Singapore. Reported Missing on 27 April 1942, he was confirmed as a PoW on 7 September 1943 and interned by the Japanese in Thailand. Recovered from the Japanese on 13 October 1945, Private Purcell was attached to 2/3 Motor Transport Coy at Discharge on 14 January 1946. Brothers Tom and Jack also served in WWII.

Frank was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1904, eldest of three children of Thomas Francis Purtell (b1875 in Ballarat, Victoria) and Lillian (Lillie) Louisa Agnes Gee Sing (aka Stevens; b1882 in Deniliquin, New South Wales). Thomas worked in Ballarat as a Labourer and Groom before moving to Melbourne, where he and Lillie married in 1904. Thomas and Lillie settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and Thomas worked as a Grocer and Cook, and Lillie was a Restaurant Keeper. Following Thomas' death in 1929, Lillie remarried.

Frank worked as a Tailor in Melbourne, where in 1927 he married Eileen Annie Whittingham (b1905 in Bendigo, Victoria). Frank and Eileen settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and Frank was a Tailor. Following their divorce in the late 1930s, Eileen remained in Melbourne and Frank was a Tailor in Sydney when he enlisted in the AIF in 1941. Frank returned to Sydney following his Discharge and resumed employment as a Tailor until his death in 1965. Eileen died in 1983.