Frank William WISE

WISE, Frank William

Service Number: 239
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 42nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Weldon, Northamptonshire, England. , 1884
Home Town: Taroom, Banana, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Goods Checker on the Midland Railway.
Died: Killed in Action, France, 1 February 1917
Cemetery: Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres
Grave IV. D. 28. Personal Inscription A NOBLE LIFE LAID DOWN
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

5 Jun 1916: Involvement Private, 239, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: ''
5 Jun 1916: Embarked Private, 239, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney

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Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

Births Sep 1884 Wise Frank William Oundle 3b 211

Frank was the son of John William Wise,  a house painter and decorator and Ada Elizabeth Wise (née Dalby). They lived at 42 Kirkby Street Nottingham. His father was born in 1850 in Stamford, Lincolnshire and his mother Ada Elizabeth Dalby was born in 1853 in Nottingham. Married in 1876, they had nine children, eight surviving infancy -

Ada Elizabeth b.1878

Gertrude b.1879,

Elsie b.1881,

Frank William b.1884,

Sidney John b.1888

Dorothy b.1895.

All the children were born in Weldon, Northamptonshire. In 1911 they lived at 42 Kirkby Street Nottingham. Frank emigrated to Australia in 1912. He enlisted in Australia and served with the 42nd Battalion Australian Imperial Force. He embarked from Sydney on 5th June 1916 on HMAT Borda. He was killed during an abortive trench raid. His battalion's war diary states 'the raiding party was caught by the cross-fire of two machine guns which had survived the preliminary bombardment.'

Death notice published on 23rd February 1917 in the Northampton Mercury :-

WISE, PTE. FRANK, Australian Infantry, son of the late Mr. J. W. Wise, of Weldon, and brother of Mrs. Scotney, of 130, St. James' Road, Northampton. He was killed in action on February 1. Pte. Wise formerly worked on the Midland Railway at Nottingham and went out to Australia about five years ago. He came over with an Australian contingent in July last year, and went out to the front in December. He was 32 years of age and single.”

 

In memoriam published 19th February 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-

“WISE. – Killed in action, February 1st, 1917, Private Frank William Wise, Australian Infantry, dearly-loved eldest son of the late T. W. [sic] and Mrs. Wise. A noble life laid down.”

In memoriam published 1st February 1918 [anniversary of his death] in the Nottingham Evening Post :-

“WISE. – In proud and ever-loving remembrance of Frank Wm. Wise, Australian Infantry, killed in action February 1st, 1917. He died that we might live. Deeply mourned. – Mother, brothers, and sisters.”

 

He is remembered on the Nottingham (Meadows) - St Saviour's Church War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour there.

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