THORNTHWAITE, Francis
| Service Number: | V159753 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | Australian Headquarters |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 3 February 1890 |
| Home Town: | Lismore, Corangamite, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Launceston High School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Accidental (plane crash), Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 13 August 1940, aged 50 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lismore Civil Cemetery, Victoria Lismore Civil Cemetery, Lismore, Victoria, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 31 May 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, Divisional Artillery HQ | |
| 26 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, Divisional Artillery HQ | |
| 3 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, V159753 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Lieutenant Colonel, V159753, South Melbourne, Victoria | |
| 13 Aug 1940: | Involvement Lieutenant Colonel, V159753, Australian Headquarters |
Help us honour Francis Thornthwaite's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for his service during World War I. He was serving as Army Liaison Officer on the General Staff at the time of his death.
He was killed in the loss of RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft A16-97 of Number 2 Squadron which was on a VIP Flight when it crashed 2 miles east of Canberra Aerodrome, ACT
Passengers killed:
Brigadier G.A. Street (Minister for the Army)
General Sir Brudenell White (Chief of the General Staff)
Lieutenant Colonel F. Thornthwaite (Army Liaison Officer)
Mr J.V. Fairbairn (Minister for Air)
Sir Henry Gullett (Vice President Executive Council)
Mr R.E. Elford (Secretary to Air Minister)
Four RAAF crew members were killed in the crash:
Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock 115 (Aircraft Captain)
Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener 607 (Second Pilot)
Corporal John Frederick Palmer 2130
Aircraftman Charles Joseph Crosdale 6673
Pilot Officer Wiesener was cremated at Rookwood Crematorium and Aircraftsman Crosdale was buried in a private service at Cessnock. The other 8 fatalities were accorded a State Funeral in Melbourne.
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Francis THORNTHWAITE was born in Launceston, Tasmania on 3rd February, 1890
His parents were William Wright THORNTHWAITE and Frances Mary STACKHOUSE
Francis married Lorna Maud Inez CURRIE in 1918 in Chelsea, England
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