Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daily Examiner – Grafton – Fri 7 May 1943

Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Page. Of Great Marlow, have been notified by the Minister for the Army that their son, Gunner Frank Watsford Page, previously reported missing, is now reported to be a prisoner of war interned in a Thailand camp. Gunner Page enlisted in the A.I.F. about three years ago and served in Malaya. He was at the fall of Singapore and has been missing for 15 months. Two of his brothers Sergt. Norman Page, of the R.A.A.F. and Trooper Alwyn Page, who is a mechanised unit of the A.I.F. have served overseas. Norman's wife is a corporal in the W.A.A.A.F.'s. Their sister Winnie's husband, Pte. G. Strathford, is in a medical unit of the A.I.F. Norman and Alwyn recently met in the Northern Territory and word was received this week from Alwyn that he had sustained a broken ankle.

The advice that Gnr. Frank Page, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Page, of Great Marlow, had died of illness in a prisoner of war camp, being buried on June 3, 1943, was received with sincere regret throughout the Clarence district.
Gunner Page, who was 28 years of age, was born in Grafton, and attended the Grafton High School. On leaving the High School, he joined the staff of Ray Grainger, Grafton, for a short period. He later went to the Northern Sawmills at South Grafton, where he remained for nine years prior to enlisting in the A.I.F. in May, 1940. He served in the Malayan campaign where he was wounded in action. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore.
He has two brothers on active service, Norman (R.A.A.F., returned) and Alwyn (A.I.F., returned). Besides his parents he is survived by four brothers, Norman, Alwyn, Tom and Jack, and three sisters, Mesdames Stratford and Biddle (Sydney) and Ena.
A letter of sympathy from Gnr. Page’s former employer, Mr. F. N. Murphy, on behalf of the Northern Sawmills Pty., Ltd., has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Page: “No event of war has given me a greater shock. He was one of the boys I sincerely hoped would return safe and sound to his old job to help reconstruct our country,” said Mr. Murphy. “His was an exemplary life. From the time he commenced with us, a boy in the mill, until he left as a splendid tradesman, his conduct was a model for every man – conscientious, loyal and quietly efficient. Australia can ill-afford the loss of such men and his sacrifice will place us eternally in debt.”
Mr. and Mrs. Page have received a letter of sympathy from their son’s former workmates. - The Daily Examiner, Grafton, issue dated Thursday March 16, 1944.