Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Franklin (Frank) was born on the 15th April 1908 in the suburban town of Exeter in South Australia. His father was Henry John Workman, a labourer. Frank was one of seven children with four sisters and three brothers. These included Harry, Ronald William, Robert Ernest, Ethel May Dulcie, Violet and Mabel.
When Frank was just three years old, his father, Henry had come to the attention of the School Inspector and was charged at the Port Adelaide Police Court with failing to send Frank’s eight-year-old brother to school for over a month. The Register in July ’11 reported: ‘The informant stated that the child had been very troublesome to the school authorities. Defendant said he had left the matter to his wife, and also saw no reason why the child should have been kept home.’ Henry received a fine of 5/- and costs of 15/-. With conditions very difficult for families especially as the Depression deepened, Frank and several of his siblings were soon fostered out as young children. Despite being scattered to other families, much later as adults, Frank was able to reunite with Harry, Ronald, Robert, Ethel and Mabel. Frank was placed with Edward Martin’s family who lived in the western suburb of Alberton. Edward had a transport business, and this is where Frank learnt to drive. Schooling was not a high priority and Frank probably left early to earn an income.
Post school Frank was part of the Militia in the 43rd Battalion while also working with the South Australian Railways as a packer, based in Alberton. Being quite resourceful, Frank later moved to Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula in search of work on farms.
There, Frank became close friends with the local Rudall boys, Arnold and Edwin, with the latter spending a holiday with Frank at Port Lincoln in ’35. Their sister, Linda was also well known for her cake decorating, including for 21st birthdays, her parents’ silver anniversary and weddings as well as her generous community involvement. She was Queen of Tennis in ’33 for the Methodist Strawberry Fete and ran a jumble stall in ’36 for the Driver River Church.
It soon became obvious that Frank had earned not only the respect of those living at Verran but also the affection of Linda Ramsey when her family organised a surprise celebration for Frank’s 27th birthday. The Eyre Peninsula Tribune reported that ‘A large number of friends, gathered at the home ot Mr and Mrs Ramsey to tender Mr Frank Workman a surprise on Monday, April 15th. Although the evening was wet it did not damp the spirits of those present. Mr W. Whittaker conducted the evening. Games, dancing and various items were enjoyed and supper was served at a late hour. A speech was made, by Mr Hutchinson of Rudall and Mr G. Smith supported his remarks. Mr Workman responded. The. evening came to a close with singing of "Auld Lang Syne."
At the end of that year, 1937, Frank married Linda Caroline Ramsey, the only daughter of Allen and Thurza Ramsey of Verran, a grain and sheep centre between Cummins and Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula. The young couple‘s wedding was celebrated at the Driver River Methodist Church in a Christmas celebration on the 26th December. Frank chose his brother-in-law, Arnold Ramsey and Linda’s cousin, Reginald Wake as his best-man and groomsman. The wedding was very much a family affair with Linda’s young cousins acting as flower girl and page boy. Linda chose a further cousin, Dolly Wake and Lorna Whittaker, as the bridesmaids. Her aunt played the ‘Wedding March’ and Allen Ransey, sang "Mate of Mine." The reception was held at the Ramsay’s home, celebrated by 150 relatives and friends. The wedding cake was made by Linda’s mother and iced by another of Linda’s cousins. The newly-weds then initially made their home at Alberton, a western suburb of Adelaide.
Their first son, Robert Keith (Keith) was born at the local Cleve hospital on 8th May 1939. They later welcomed a second son, Brian Winston born in February ’41 in Cleve.
With the outbreak of WWII and just after his 33rd birthday, Frank enlisted on the 17th May and was officially accepted on the 5th June, 1941 in Adelaide becoming SX13120. He enlisted at the same time as Pte C. McGowan with a social being held in honour of the two young men. Following speeches, the Port Lincoln Times reported that as well as socks, ‘parcels were also presented to each soldier by local patriotic bodies, together with a sum of money.’ Frank was briefly in the 3rd Training Battalion before being allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.
Following this brief pre-embarkation, which was spent with Linda’s parents at Verran, Pte F.K. Workman was soon on his way to the Middle East, arriving on the 20th October ’41. He was quickly placed in the Australian Infantry Battalion and attended School for almost a fortnight before returning to his battalion and then allocated Special Duty.
He survived the dust, flies, and heat of the Middle East, eventually being amongst the fortunate few of the original Battalion that returned to Australia via Melbourne on the 25th February ’42. Frank had brief leave which was spent with the Ramsey’s in Port Lincoln before all returned with Pte Harris. Frank was soon training in Queensland in preparation for a totally different war against a very different enemy in New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay at the end of July ’43 where he undertook various roles including as a cook and later a carrier.
With the war slowly coming to an end, Frank was able to return to Australia via Brisbane on the 16th March and was finally discharged on the 3rd May ’44. In what should have been joyous times now peace had finally been achieved, brought heartache for Frank and Linda. Their young daughter, named Kay arrived but only lived for 12 hours and died on the 1st March, ’45, then Linda’s mother, Thurza, who had been ill for some time, died in November, just after her 69th birthday.
Frank and Linda were, however, able to celebrate the arrival of their son, Graham William on the 26th May, 46, born at the Cleve District Hospital. Clifton Eric (Cliff) was born the following year in the same hospital on 25th August 1947.
When the eight-year-old son, Ronald of their good friends, the Maxwells died at Murlong in September ’48, Frank was a huge support. He and the three Ramsay brothers, Edwin, Steven and Lance, acted as coffin bearers at the funeral. In later years, Frank and Linda opened their home to Frank’s elderly father, Henry who lived with them until his death in 1957. This was an exceptional gesture considering Frank’s early childhood of being fostered out.
When Frank and Linda retired, they lived in Strathalbyn for ten years, before returning to Kimba where two of their sons were farming. Frank enjoyed gardening and was always known to cook breakfast. Aged 78, Frank died on the 2nd June 1986 and is buried in the Kimba Cemetery. Linda lived to be 80, she died on the 15th March ‘92 and now rests with Frank. Their headstone carries a tribute to Frank’s service as part of the 2/48th Battalion.
Researched and written by Cliff Workman and Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.