SEBIRE, Francis Henry
| Service Number: | 5441 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 November 1915, Broadmeadows, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 27 March 1890 |
| Home Town: | Newtown, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Pine Lodge South State School No 2513, Melbourne High School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | School teacher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 November 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Alexandra War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Newtown All Saints Church Honour Roll, Shepparton Pine Lodge South State School No 2513 Roll of Honor, Taggerty Honor Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5441, 5th Infantry Battalion, Broadmeadows, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5441, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5441, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 10 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 60th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 5441, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5441 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-11-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John and Christina Sebire, of 94, Marine Parade, St. Kilda, Victoria.
Francis Henry Sebire, husband of Mrs. F.M. Sebire, of the South Preston School, and son of Mr. John Sebire, who was head teacher of the Flinders School, Geelong, was born on the 27th of March, 1890. After his elementary school course, he became a student of the Melbourne High School, matriculating ther in 1910. Appointed junior teacher at the Rathdown Street School, Carlton, he was afterwards head teacher at Binginwarra and Taggerty.
He enlisted in December 1915, and while in camp at Broadmeadows, received notice from the Education Department Office that he had been promoted to the charge of the school at Laver's Hill, but, of course, did not take up this appointment. In July, 1916, he sailed for England with the rank of Sergeant (he had held a Lieutenant's commission in the Senior Cadets), with the 18th Reinforcements to the 5th Battalion on the transport Ayrshire.
After a few months at Salisbury Plain, he gave up his stripes to go to the Front to rejoin his comrades and get into the firing line. He was sent out on a dangerous mission in charge of a body of men of the 60th Battalion on the night of the 20th November, 1916. None of these men returned to the base. Whether they were captured or killed could ot be ascertained; but, as their names did not appear on prisoner lists, the Defence authorities declared them killed in action.
His record as a teacher shows him to have been thorough, earnest, and conscientious, commanding the attention and respect of his pupils.
Commemorated Taggerty's Honor Board - On the 5th April 1922 the Honor Board erected by the residents of Taggerty, to commemorate the part played by district volunteers in The Great War, was unveiled in the Taggerty Hall by Cr. John Wylie.
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Francis Henry SEBIRE was born in Port Melbourne, Victoria on 27th March, 1890
His parents were John SEBIRE & Christina ROBBINS who married in Victoria in 1889
Francis married Flora Margaret McINNES in Victoria in 1916 - one son Paul Francis SEBIRE born 1st April, 1917
He had previous service as a Lieutenant in the Victorian Cadets before he enlisted at Broadmeadows on 29th June, 1916 - he was promoted to Corporal on 1st April, 1916 & to Sergeant 29th June, 1916 & embarked with the 5th Infantry Battalion , 18th reinforcements from Melbourne on the ship Ayrshire
He reverted to Private on 23rd October, 1916 & was transferred to the 60th Infantry Battalion on 10th November, 1916
Francis was Killed in Action in France on 20th November, 1916 - no known grave - his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & the Villers Bretonneux Memorial
Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal
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His son Paul Francis SEBIRE first joined the Army (SN Q302963) in June, 1940 & was discharged in September 1940
He then joined the RAAF (SN 405026) in 1941 and was discharged in 1946 - he became a Flight Lieutenant
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