Francis John (Frank) DAVIES

Francis John (Frank) DAVIES Update Details

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DAVIES, Francis John

Service Number:	3692
Enlisted:	29 January 1917
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	47th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 12 June 1898
Home Town:	Goodna, Ipswich, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Grocer
Died:	Killed in Action, Albert, France, 28 March 1918, aged 19 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Redbank War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)

World War 1 Service

29 Jan 1917:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3692
2 Aug 1917:	Involvement Private, 3692, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''
2 Aug 1917:	Embarked Private, 3692, 47th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Sydney
28 Mar 1918:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3692, Killed in Action, Railway line, Albert on the day of the First Battle of Dernancourt

Francis John Davies

Francis John Davies, on 29/1/1917 when enlisting in the A.I.F. said “I was adopted by Mr Stephen Davies when I was eighteen months of age, since that age I have never seen my parents and do not know of there (their) whereabouts. … I am eighteen years and seven months of age”.

Source: NAA B2455 Davies, Francis John, p49

1. Francis John was born at Rockhampton, Queensland on 12/6/1898.

2. About January 1900, he was adopted by Stephen Herbert Davies of Goodna, Queensland and his name was changed to Francis John Davies. He was raised with the understanding that he was adopted, and he knew nothing about his biology.

3. Francis John enlisted 29/1/1917 and was posted to 47th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement. At the request of his adopted father, he was transferred to the Reserve Unit for six months so that he would not embark for overseas service until he was 19 years of age.

4. He embarked onboard HMAT A28 Miltiades on 2/8/1917 and disembarked 2/10/1917 in Glasgow, Scotland.

5. He was posted to Codford on the Salisbury Plains in England until departing Southampton on 16/1/1918, arriving Havre, France the next day.

6. 23/1/1918 he was taken on strength of 47th Battalion A.I.F.

7. 28/3/1918 Francis John Davies was Killed in Action during the First Battle of Dernancourt. He was initially buried at the Railway line, Albert near Sheet 62D NE and finally laid to rest in an unmarked grave in the Military Cemetery, Dernancourt “KNOWN UNTO GOD”.

8. 21/6/1918 his personal effects of wallet, letters, photos, card, 4 coins and Battalion souvenir were returned to Australia in case number 1172 on board the Barunga. The Barunga was lost at sea on the way to Australia, along with his worldly possessions.

9. 19/4/1931 his file was endorsed that Stephen Herbert Davies had no knowledge of blood relatives.

10. Francis John was awarded the British War Medal D/59 58372 and the Victory Medal D/58 57332 and on 20/4/1931 they were given to Stephen Herbert Davies (their current whereabouts is unknown).

11. 6/6/1934 his sister Miss Florence Davies was issued with Nearest Female Relative Badge No 70943.

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