WELCH, Frank Carey
| Service Number: | 11426 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | North Sydney, North Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Fort Street Boys High School, Sydney,New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Chemist |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 26 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Area S, Plot II, Row T, Grave 27. NOT WITH THE HOPE OF GAINING AUGHT NOT SEEKING A REWARD |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Petersham Fort Street High School Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 11426, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 11426, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 15 Jan 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 11426, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, RMS Osterley, Sydney | |
| 6 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier | |
| 3 Apr 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Bombardier, 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Frank Carey Welch was the son of Charles Frederick and Eleanor Florentina Welch of 'Athenia', North Sydney, New South Wales. He was a chemist and worked for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company.
Frank enlisted in 1915 and served in the Artillery for almost three years. He was posted to the 106th Howitzer Battery during April 1917. His older brother, Septimus, also transferred to the 106th Howitzer Battery during August 1917.
On 17 October 1918, both men were with this Battery which was in action near the town of St. Souplet, France. Frank was mortally wounded on the morning of this this day, hit by pieces of an enemy 5.9-inch German shell which exploded near him when he was in a forward observation post doing reconnaissance. He suffered severe shrapnel wounds to the thigh and was carried out across shell swept ground by 1963 Bombardier Wilson who was awarded a DCM for the act.
Frank’s brother, Septimus Welch was killed later the same day when a shell from his own howitzer prematurely exploded on firing.
Frank was taken to a dressing station, but died of shrapnel wounds over a week later in a General Hospital in Rouen, France.
The brothers have the same epitaph on their headstones, NOT WITH THE HOPE OF GAINING AUGHT NOT SEEKING A REWARD, which is taken from a hymn. They are buried over 200 kilometers apart. Even more tragic was the fact that the Armistice and the end of the war was only weeks away when they met their deaths.
Another brother, Gunner Harold Arthur Welch, served with the 111th British Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
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