SUBLET, Frank Henry
| Service Number: | WX1598 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Meekatharra Western Australia , 1 May 1910 |
| Home Town: | Subiaco, Nedlands, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | University of Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Civil Servant |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Frankston Victoria Australia , 2002 |
| Cemetery: |
Frankston Memorial Park and Cemetery |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 1 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, WX1598, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1940: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, WX1598, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW2 | |
| 7 Jun 1941: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, WX1598, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Syria - Operation Exporter | |
| 9 Jun 1941: | Honoured Military Cross, Syria - Operation Exporter, Battle of Littani River | |
| 30 Dec 1943: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, New Guinea - Huon Peninsula / Markham and Ramu Valley /Finisterre Ranges Campaigns | |
| 30 Dec 1943: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, WX1598, 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion, New Guinea - Huon Peninsula / Markham and Ramu Valley /Finisterre Ranges Campaigns | |
| 27 Jul 1945: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, WX1598, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, Borneo - Operation Oboe July - August 1945 | |
| 27 Jul 1945: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Borneo - Operation Oboe July - August 1945 | |
| 5 Feb 1946: | Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, WX1598, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Feb 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, WX1598, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion |
WW2
The details provided are taken from the book "1000 Men at War" the history of the 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, published 1959, refer to page 53. Frank was born at Meekatharra 13th May 1910, and prior to the war he was a public servant of Victoria Park WA. He served with the 2nd/16th Inf Bn, he was eventually promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and during the war service he was awarded the decorations DSO, MC, MID, (Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, & Mentioned in Dispatches).
Submitted 27 April 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Biography contributed by Graham Padget
Born in Meekatharra in 1910, Frank Henry Sublet enrolled as a student at UWA but did not complete a degree. He enlisted in the 2/16th Battalion and during World War II, saw service in the Syria Campaign, where he was awarded the Military Cross Middle East in 1942, for ‘outstanding gallantry and initiative’, through ‘strong defensive fire’ in the Litani River battle. In New Guinea, he was mentioned in despatches for his ‘absolute disregard for his own personal safety’ in battle and he had ‘twice crossed the Owen Stanley Ranges’ with barely a rest. In Borneo, Balikpapan (1943), he was awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (Imperial) – Army-South West Pacific (1945), during the capture of Mount Malang in Balikpapan. ‘Throughout the day, he consistently set a high example of personal courage to his troops. The unqualified success of the battalion's work was undoubtedly due to Lt Col Sublet’s …masterly direction … of the plan of operation… he showed out as an outstandingly efficient, fearless, aggressive and balanced leader.
(Courtesy of UWA Historical- Stories)
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