Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George and Maria Trim of Mount Gravtt, South Brisbane, QLD

Enquiry into his death stated that:- several batmen were cleaning revolvers in the Officers Tent when one suggested that he ahd Frank should have a game of 'bushrangers' pointed the revolver at Frank and pulled the trigger having forgotten that he had loaded the revolver before hand. The bullet lodged at the base of Frank's neck. The batman who fired the shot was ordered to face Court Martial

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Also served in the Cadets

Apprenticed to J. Williams of Sunnybank, QLD

Frank Trim was 22 years old when he enlisted on 20th January 1916. He reported that he was employed as a carter and had been apprenticed to J. Williams of Sunnybank. He gave his address as Mount Gravatt and named his mother, Maria as his next of kin.

Frank was drafted as part of the 13th reinforcements for the 25th Battalion and embarked on the “Seang Choon” on 4th May 1916; arriving in Alexandria on 15th June. The 25th battalion had already left Egypt for the Western Front and Frank would not join his unit until October, when he arrived with other reinforcements to bring the battalion up to strength after their mauling at Pozieres.

For the remainder of 1916 and into early 1917, the 25th continued to rotate in and out of the line taking part in the ill-fated attacks at Flers and Bullecourt. From May until September 1917, the battalion spent time behind the lines in Flanders resting and training. Frank received two weeks leave in England in October 1917 and returned to his unit in time for the battalion to be called back into action west of Ypres. On 30th October, Frank was gassed at Broodseinde Ridge near Passchendaele and was evacuated to England. After a period of time in hospital and convalescent depots; Frank rejoined his unit in March 1918.

March 1918 signalled the beginning of the German spring offensive (Operation Michael) which saw the gains on the Somme so desperately won in 1916 reversed as the German assault swept through Gough’s fifth army as far as Villers Bretonneux. The Australian divisions; now under Monash as corps commander, were rushed to the Somme to halt the advance, which was achieved on ANZAC Day 1918 at Villers Bretonneux. The 25th Battalion arrived on the Somme in the middle of May and began “peaceful penetration” operations around Morlancourt until late June.

On the 26th June near the village of Allonville, the battalion was in a rest area. Frank and a number of other soldiers who were acting as batmen to the battalion officers were engaged in cleaning the officer’s revolvers. The accident report completed after statements were taken from a number of witnesses stated that Pte Edward Rogers asked Pte Frank Trim if he “wanted to have a game of bushrangers.” Rogers pointed the revolver he was cleaning at Trim’s head and pulled the trigger, forgetting that the revolver was loaded.

Frank sustained a serious head wound and was taken to the nearby 47th casualty Clearing Station where he subsequently died. His death was officially recorded as “Died of Wounds.” Frank was buried at the nearby Crouy British Cemetery.

The report into the incident also records that Private Rogers would be tried at a General Field Court Martial. An examination of the records of Private Rogers indicates that he faced a court martial on 2nd August. There are no witness statements and no record of proceedings save for the cover page which indicates that Rogers was sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment. To this researcher, it seems that the Military Authorities quickly decided that no benefit would be gained from pursuing what was in all likelihood a terrible accident. It is also apparent that Frank’s mother was not fully informed of the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, with the official statement recording that he died from an accidental gunshot wound to the head not provided until April 1919. Even then, it is ambiguous as there is no indication that the wound was not self inflicted.

Maria Trim received her son’s personal effects, three photographs of his grave and the Empire and Victory Medals. When she completed the Roll of Honour circular in 1923 she recorded that Frank had died of wounds. The 25th battalion history records Frank as having died of disease. Neither would appear to be accurate and it would appear that the military authorities at the time were not in any hurry to correct the mistakes.