Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MAWSON, FRANCIS
SERVICE NO. 3896
9TH REINFORCEMENTS 17TH BATTALION
Francis was born in Helensburgh in 20th September 1896 to Francis Joseph Mawson (Miner) born Auckland NZ and Emily Louisa Messer from Penrith.
Francis had four sisters, Emily, Christina, Dorothy (Doris) and Elsie sadly she passed away as an infant. He had one brother Henry. Francis grew up in Helensburgh. Upon leaving school he became a carter. He remained in Helensburgh until he enlisted in the AIF. He enlisted at Holsworthy NSW on 22nd August 1915. His army age was 21yrs 1mth his real age was 19 years. He was 5ft 7ins tall.
Frank embarked on 20th January 1916 on the HMAT Runic.
He went into training in the sand, sand and more sand. Marching long distances with full packs, practising war survival using weapons of various types and lots and lots of bayonet practise. He then travelled to France. The train journey through France was very picturesque. The men decided Champagne was not as good as a beer. His battalion had great devotion to duty and the men all had a great sense of humour The battalion took part in its first major battle at Pozieres in July and August 16. Everyone was keen for combat. A few week later they crawled to their positions.
The weather was getting hotter and Frank marched along with sore feet from walking on cobbled roads but always sang. They headed back to Pozieres where they relieved the 9th Battalion. When all the men were in their positions they heard a cry, look out they are coming. On the front moving straight towards them appeared a line of men advancing on the double. Orders were given to prepare to fire. Frank said we were all ready and strained our eyes to pick up a good target and waited for the word, fire. It did not come. One of the Captains observed they were Australians and the message went out not to fire. The Captains observation averted a tragedy. These soldiers were returning from an unsuccessful attack on the enemy.
Come October Frank found himself at Montauban. The trenches were deep in mud and the men got bogged and had to be dug out with shovels. There was no hot food but hot tea was brought in petrol tins. Guns and ammunition had to be kept out of the mud.
Frank was admitted to hospital with Trench feet. It was caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp and unsanitary and cold conditions. Frank had now discovered whale oil has been introduced to prevent Trench Feet. He found it good for a foot massage but did not find it much good for anything else.
Frank marched in at Etaples on 30th November 1916 and returned to his battalion on Christmas Eve. He was not very happy but he did get a plum pudding and was in the field on 30th December 1916. Snow had started falling and the troops were experiencing the worst winter in Europe for 40 years. The weather was very cold and lucky for them they were issued with ‘tommy cookers’ (small tins filled with solidified alcohol) which Frank and the others really enjoyed. It could not have come at a better time because the men could not get any hot food supplied. It came from the 17th Battalion Comforts Fund a devoted band of women workers.
The rotten weather was a nightmare to the troops but it gave way now to heavy snow and bitter frosts. They were issued with two pairs of gloves per man. Frank was off to hospital again with severe frostbite. There were no continuous trenches here and patrolling proved tricky on account of the snow covered ground. It was hard to move about and the men found it difficult to keep blood circulating in their feet. The tea was frozen by the time it reached the men. Their water bottles were also frozen so they had nothing to drink. Fritz (the Germans) were a secondary consideration to the men they wanted a hot cup of tea. The machine guns used water to operate so they did not work but the Germans had the same problem.
The Battalion moved on to Flers in the Butte De Warlencourt sector and remained there till the 5th February 1917. It was here Frank was severely wounded in the left arm and chest on 2nd February 1917.
He was transferred to Rouen Hospital France and discharged to England. This was the end of the war for Frank. He required treatment for some months with rhythmically reversed galvarium (this was electrotherapy used to aid in the rebuilding of muscle tissue in the deltoid muscle. The deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the shoulder) and he attended Radcliffe for that purpose.
On the 30th June 1917 he was transferred to Harefield. Here he commenced his convalescence. Finally he returned to Australia arriving in Sydney on 28th September 1917 and took leave. He celebrated his 21st birthday was on board ship returning to Australia. He was discharged on 2nd March 1918.
He married Alice Beryl Doran on 4th March 1918. He had 5 children.
Francis was worked as a Railway Signalman. He later returned to being a carter.
Frank enlisted to serve in WW2 in the AIF at Sydney on 14th October 1939 aged 43, Regimental No. N69458, he was discharged on 24th March 1941 due to being medically unfit.
Frank went to visit his mother and when he was stepping from the platform of a Double Decker bus he was struck by a motor vehicle. On the 1st August 1957 aged 60 years he died from injuries. He is buried in the Presbyterian Section of Rookwood Cemetery with his dad and mum and sister. Frank survived the Western Front only to be killed by a car.