Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Trooper Claude Francis Westhoven, who served as Frank Claud Westhoven (Service No. 975), was an Australian World War One veteran who served our nation at Gallipoli and whose previously unmarked grave in Lutwyche Cemetery we have marked with a plaque honouring his service for Australia.

On 23 September 2023, his plaque was unveiled in Lutwyche Cemetery, along with a further 300 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
https://www.australianremembrancearmy.com/lutwyche...

Claude Francis (Frank Claud) Westhoven was born on 26 January 1892 in Tambo, Queensland, to parents Rose Anna Westhoven (née McGuinness), aged 21, and Francis Anthony (Frank) Westhoven, aged 22. His father died on 9 November 1893 in Tambo, aged 23, and his mother died on 27 October 1911 in South Brisbane, aged 41. By 1913, Frank was residing in Roma, Queensland, and working as a stockman.
Frank enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Brisbane on 23 December 1914, giving his age as 23 years and 11 months. He initially nominated his brother as next of kin, later updating this to his wife, Mrs Mary Murray Graham Westhoven, whom he married on 7 April 1915. Their daughter, Agnes, was born in January 1916 while he was serving overseas.
On 22 May 1915, Frank embarked from Newcastle, New South Wales, aboard HMAT A57 Malakuta for service overseas. He served at Gallipoli and later in Egypt. On 14 September 1915, he was admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital in Cairo suffering from a septic leg, and was discharged to duty on 25 September 1915. Although he experienced several periods of illness, he survived the war without serious injury.

In December 1918, Frank embarked on HMAT Leicestershire for return to Australia, arriving on 22 January 1919. His repatriation was part of the large-scale operation overseen by Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, which returned more than 160,000 Australian service personnel home between December 1918 and September 1919. Frank was formally discharged from the AIF on 18 March 1919.

In November 1923, Frank and Mary Murray Graham were divorced in Brisbane after eight years of marriage. He was granted custody of their daughter, Agnes Graham Westhoven, who was later raised by Maud Westhoven, the wife of Frank’s brother, Arthur Mitchell Westhoven, in what appears to have been an informal adoption. In 1924, Frank married Lila Margaret James in Randwick, New South Wales. The couple remained together until Lila died in August 1936, after twelve years of marriage. By 1943, electoral records show Frank residing in Brisbane, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Trooper Westhoven, died on 19 February 1955 aged 63, and was buried four days later in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

Lest We Forget