Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Julius Gampe

Frank Julius Gampe was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 11 June 1883, and christened Julius Franz Gampe. He was the son of Prussian-born Julius Herrmann Gampe (1850-1908) and Anna Pauline Wagener (1851-1927), who migrated to Queensland from Germany in 1878.

On 29 June 1904, Frank married Harriet Beatrice (Henrietta) Williams (1884-1939), and by 1905, they lived in Norman Avenue, South Brisbane. At the time of their marriage, they already had a son, Francis Archibald Gampe, born on 5 February 1900. By 1909, the family had moved to Sword Street, Woolloongabba, where Frank worked as a carter, delivering goods in a two-wheeled horse-drawn cart.

Despite his German heritage, which may have caused internal conflict, Frank enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 4 May 1917 at the age of 33. He lived in East Brisbane with his family and still worked as a carter. His enlistment was noted in The Telegraph and the Daily Standard on 5 May 1917, a time when enlistment numbers were low, and conscription had been rejected in a national referendum.

Frank was assigned service number 3649 and embarked from Sydney on 1 August 1917 with the 10th Reinforcements, 49th Battalion, aboard HMAT A7 Medic. The ship sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he transferred to the S.S. Orissa, arriving in Liverpool on 3 October 1917. From there, he moved to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford on the Salisbury Plain to complete his training.

On 16 January 1918, Frank proceeded to France and was transferred to the 25th Battalion, part of the 7th Brigade, 2nd Division AIF. Upon his arrival in camp at Kortepyp, Belgium, Frank was assigned to “D” Company. The Battalion was nearing full strength with 43 officers and 755 other ranks. Throughout 1918, Frank served with the battalion during key battles, including Morlancourt, Hamel, Amiens, and along the Somme Valley.

Service in the Field

Frank’s first major combat experience was at the Third Battle of Morlancourt on 10 June 1918. The 7th Brigade, including the 25th Battalion, was ordered to capture the ridge between Sailly-Laurette and Morlancourt. Frank's “D” Company, along with “A” and “C” Companies, made up the first wave of the attack, supported by a creeping barrage and machine guns. Despite encountering significant machine gun fire, the battalion achieved its objectives, but at a high cost, suffering 43 killed and over 150 wounded.

In the Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918, the 25th Battalion launched a supporting attack, with Frank’s “D” Company assaulting heavily defended trenches. The successful operation was another example of evolving tactics integrating artillery, infantry, and tanks in coordinated assaults.

During the Amiens Offensive on 8 August 1918, the battalion acted as reserve for 7th Brigade, providing critical support during the breakthrough. The battalion's experiences at Amiens exemplified the role of AIF units in driving the final Allied offensives of 1918.

Final Campaigns and Disbandment

By October 1918, after months of heavy fighting and high casualties, the 25th Battalion was ordered to amalgamate with the 26th Battalion due to severe manpower shortages. Frank was transferred to the 26th Battalion on 12 October 1918. The battalion continued to advance until the Armistice on 11 November 1918.

The final nominal roll of the 25th Battalion highlights just how depleted it had become by this stage. At least 132 men were assigned to headquarters roles such as transport, stretcher-bearers, cooks, and signallers. The loss of identity and consolidation into the 26th Battalion was a difficult but accepted reality for Frank and his comrades.

Post-War Service and Return Home

On 4 November 1918, he was detached to the 2nd Australian Division Reinforcement Wing, a common rotation for men to rest before returning to the front. After the Armistice, Frank rejoined the 26th Battalion, spending the post-war months in Belgium before returning to Australia aboard the Bakara on 24 July 1919. He disembarked on 30 September and was discharged on 1 November 1919.

Final Years and Legacy

After surviving some of the fiercest battles of 1918 unscathed, Frank’s post-war life was tragically short. He died on 30 April 1924 at the age of 40 and is buried with his wife, Harriet, in Balmoral Cemetery, Queensland.