SLEE, Frank Thilthorpe
| Service Number: | 2199 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia, 14 October 1888 |
| Home Town: | Marrickville, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Horse driver |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, 20 August 1960, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Sydney War Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Valla Grand United Order of Oddfellows WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 2199, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Driver, 2199, 1st Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Driver, 2199, 1st Field Company Engineers, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 7 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
| 21 Sep 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Menin Road |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Frank was the youngest son of Richard and Mary Ann Slee (nee Thilthorpe) of Marrickville, New South Wales.
His older brother, 436 Sergeant Arthur Thilthorpe Slee 45th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Pozieres on 15 August 1916, aged 32.
Another older brother, John Thilthorpe Slee served in the Boer War with the South African Light Horse.
Another brother, Richard Thilthorpe Slee, became General Manager, B.H.P., at Broken Hill.
Frank served with the Engineers and was promoted Lance Corporal during August 1916, during the Battle of Pozieres.
Frank was awarded a Military Medal in 1917, during the Battle of Menin Road, “During the operations along the Menin Road on the 21st September morning and evening he was in charge of a section of communication trench to a Strong Point near Polygon Wood, under construction in an exposed position and which came under very heavy shell fire before dawn. He continued on the work without pause and throughout the morning remained on the job although under direct enemy observation and intermittent shelling, thereby finishing and properly connecting the trench with Strong Point. During over four hours shelling the same evening, while the enemy was expected to attack, Lance Corporal Slee was constantly moving from point to point inspiring others with confidence and steadying the men of the section under the most trying conditions of inaction and exposure.”
He was wounded about 11 days later, shot in the right leg, and evacuated to England. He rejoined his unit in France during July 1918 and survived the war, returning to Australia in 1919.