Frank Patten WATHERSTON

WATHERSTON, Frank Patten

Service Number: 1427
Enlisted: 26 September 1914, Helena Vale, Western Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 11th Infantry Battalion
Born: Port Lincoln, South Australia, Australia, 23 July 1883
Home Town: Port Lincoln, Port Lincoln, South Australia
Schooling: Port Lincoln Public School
Occupation: Wood Merchant
Died: Died of wounds (received at Gallipoli), Mudros, Greece, 4 July 1915, aged 31 years
Cemetery: East Mudros Military Cemetery
Plot I, Row G, Grave 116, East Mudros Military Cemetery, Mudros, Lemnos, Aegean Islands, Greece
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Lincoln & District Honor Roll WW1, Port Lincoln Garden of Remembrance
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World War 1 Service

26 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1427, Helena Vale, Western Australia
22 Feb 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1427, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Itonus, Fremantle
22 Feb 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1427, 11th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
7 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1427, 11th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli

Help us honour Frank Patten Watherston's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Frank Patten Watherston 1427 Rank: Private Unit: 11th Battalion (Infantry) Date of death: 4 July 1915 Place of death: Greece Cause of death: Died of wounds Cemetery or memorial details: East Mudros Military Cemetery, Greece Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army See service record 

The Watherston family was historically associated with Boston Island,  which dominates the seaward side of Port Lincoln's spectacular harbour.  The tragic story of the Watherston family is the most profound story of sacrifice by a single family in the course of Australia's involvement with the Great War of 1914 - 18.   Four brothers and a cousin were to give their lives in the country's name.  All died within the first 18 months of Australia's involvement.

This tragedy was preceded by the loss of both parents in a tragic boating accident prior to the war.

Frank Patten was working in Western Australia at the outbreak of war and enlisted in the 11th Battalion.  He subsequently served at ANZAC as a result of which he died of wounds at Mudros, the site of a large hospital on the nearby Greek island of Lemnos.

Port Lincoln historian Geoffrey 'Lee' Clayton has compiled their story over the past 14 years since first noticing two "Dead Men's Pennies" at a deceased Estate auction. See the link in the sidebar.

The collective and individual stories of these men and their wider family will be told on this site soon.

 

More to follow...........

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Wednesday 5 July 1916

HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR.

WATHERSTON.— In loving memory of Frank P., killed in action July 4, 1915, third son of the late James Watherston, of Boston Island, Port Lincoln.

"For his country's sake."

—Inserted by his sisters, Kirkcaldy, S.A.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6460995

 

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Saturday 31 July 1915

DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE.

WATHERSTON.—On the 14th July, result of wounds received at Dardanelles, Frank Patten Watherston, third son of the late James Watherton, of Port Lincoln, aged 20 years. "When the day breaks and the shadows flee away."

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5476254

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