VERRALL, Frank
| Service Numbers: | 2160 / 2269, 2160, 2269 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 May 1916, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hermitage, South Australia, 21 April 1895 |
| Home Town: | Inglewood, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | War Veterans Home, Myrtle Bank, South Australia, 13 August 1985, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Lawn 1, Path 37, Grave 1935 |
| Memorials: | Houghton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 13 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2160 / 2269, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2160, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2160, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 40th Infantry Battalion, From 43rd Battalion. Re-allocated with service number now 2269 | |
| 3 Jan 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2269, 40th Infantry Battalion | |
| 28 Mar 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2269, 40th Infantry Battalion, Second occasion. Wound to the leg. Embarked for England on 31 March 1918 aboard HS West Australia. | |
| 17 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2269, 40th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2160, 40th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Frank Verrall's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of George Verrall and Elizabeth Verrall nee Warner of Hermitage, SA.
Husband of Ruby Alice Verrall nee Booth of Inglewood, SA. Frank and Ruby married on 3 May 1916 in the Kent Town Methodist Manse, SA
Commenced return to Australia on 30 April 1919 aboard HT Kargola disembarking on 9 June 1919
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Charles Campbell College
Frank Verrall was born on 21 April 1895 in Hermitage, South Australia and was brought up within the town of Inglewood, located in the Adelaide Hills, SA, where he grew up to work as a Labourer. Frank had dark blue eyes, dark brown hair, a chest measurement of 34.36 inches, and was 5 feet 9.5 inches tall. The religion that both Frank and his parents identified with was Methodist. Frank also served in local citizen military forces (CMF), also known as the Militia, prior to his 3-year enlistment in the military. Frank, at the age of 21, married Ruby Alice Verrall. Frank’s mother, Elizabeth Verrall nee Warner and father, George Verrall, were also born in South Australia. Frank’s parents, Elizabeth and George, had twelve children, including Frank, named Albert, William, George, John, Henry, Elizabeth, Herbert, Phoebe, Jessie, Amelia and Doras.
In Adelaide on the 13 of May 1916, Frank enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) WW1 and was assigned to the 43rd Battalion, becoming Private 2160 at the age of 21. Frank departed from Adelaide, travelling on His Majesty’s Australian Transport (HMAT) Anchises A68 in late August 1916.
Frank was transferred to the 40th Battalion in November 1916 and his service number changed from 2160 to 2269. He proceeded overseas to France to fight on the Western Front. Frank was wounded in action January 1917 with sharpnel wounds to his neck and was also diagnosed with scabies. He received treatment and returned to his unit 10 March 1917. In April he became ill with tonsillitis and returned to hospital for a couple of weeks before rejoining his unit.
Frank was again wounded in March 1918 with gun shot wound to the leg and was transferred to England for further treatment and recovery. He was discharged to base for lighter duties. In August 1918 he took leave and remained at Depot for the remainder of his service. He returned to Austalia in May 1919 and was discharged in Adelaide in June.
Frank returned to civilian life after spending three years and two months in the military. He spent his life with his wife, Ruby Alice Verrall. His daughter, Mavis Jean Verrall, who was born on 29 January 1917. Ruby gave birth to Reginald Frank on 25 June 1920 and Maxwell Millington Verrall was born shortly after in 1922, followed by Victor Glen Verrall on 8th of February 1925 and Shirley Dawn Verrall in 1929.
Ruby passed on the 10th of July 1981, at the age of 87. Frank later passed away on the 13th of August 1985 at the veterans’ home in Myrtle Bank, South Australia, at the age of 90. He was laid to rest with his wife at Centennial Park Cemetery.