GHILOTTI, Francis
| Service Number: | 5099 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Footscray, Victoria, Australia, November 1896 |
| Home Town: | Collie, Collie, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Presentation Convent, Collie, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Printer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 7 March 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais - Hauts-de-France Plot II, Row E, Grave 15A. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5099, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5099, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Fremantle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Francis was the son of Guiseppe and Frances Ghilotti, of Wittenoom St., Collie, Western Australia. In 1914, he received certificate as Sergeant in 58th West Australian Senior Cadets.
Francis enlisted at 18 years of age. He suffered a gunshot wound to the back on 27 February 1917, and was taken to the 32nd Stationary Hospital in Wimereux but died of septic meningitis 8 days later.
The newspaper W.A. Record ran the following article during May 1917,
"By a recent mail Mr. and Mrs. Ghilotti received several letters respecting the illness and death of their son, the late Private Frank Ghilotti. The following will no doubt be of deep interest to the young soldier's many friends,
No.32 stationary Hospital, Boulogne, March 7th, 1917. Dear Mrs. Ghilotti, — I regret very much that it is necessary that I should write to you. Your son was admitted to my ward on March 1st wounded in the back and chest. He was quite sensible when admitted, and chatted to us about you all. He was such a good brave lad — we were very fond of him and would have loved to have sent him home to you, but, alas, the wretched poison had entered the spine, and yesterday morning his medical officer told us that his recovery was quite hopeless, also that the end would come rapidly. That same evening the dear lad passed away. He was delirious for several days, but on the afternoon, of the 6th we asked him if he knew he was very ill. He said, “Yes”, and asked us "would we send his love to his mother, his little brother, and his dad." These were his last words just as I write them. He then said his prayers, and just after that the priest, came. All this time he was quite sensible, and some hours after passed away quite peacefully. There is nothing else to tell you. I ask you to accept my sympathy in your sorrow; he was far too nice and dear a boy to lose. You will wonder how he is buried. Quite properly; his body is placed in a coffin covered with the colours. He lies in a row with many others, — honoured graves that anyone might be envious of being there. They are beautifully kept, and soon your boy's name and regiment will appear on a small white cross. Most of the sisters visit the graves from time to time. The cemetery is only one-and-a-half miles from Wimereux, this hospital. Would you like me when the cross is there to place a pot plant on the grave? You will then feel that someone did it for you. I have placed one on each of my boys' graves. Again, accept my sympathy— both you and his father.
From yours very, sincerely, A. GABRIEL (Sister). P.S. — As I am an Australian and he was from Australia, I will place the plant without waiting for a reply, I do it for the love I have for all these brave boys. All the letters received bear high tributes to the excellent character of the young soldier.”
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