Francis (Frank) Edward Anderson
Stephen LearmonthFrank was born in Corryong, Victoria, in 1896, to William George and Martha (nee Doran) Anderson. He was the third of five children, and all three boys served during the First World War.
When he enlisted on September 3, 1915, he was a single 19-year-old station hand. He was allocated the Service Number 3452 and placed in the 8th Reinforcements for the 23rd Battalion. In early January the following year, he embarked on HMAT A19 Afric at Melbourne. Frank disembarked in Egypt and spent three months in training. He disembarked at Alexandria on 19 March and arrived at Marseilles one week later. Not long after arriving in France, he was taken on strength with the 2nd Pioneers.
On 21 June, he was wounded in action. He remained in hospital for a week before returning to his unit. One month later, he was wounded by shrapnel to his right shoulder. Initially sent to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance before being discharged to the 2nd Australian Base Depot at Etaples.
In early 1917, Frank was detached to the Australian Corps Workshops and remained with them until March 1919. He then spent two months in England before returning to Australia aboard HMAT A72 Nestor. He arrived home on 20 May 1919, and was discharged on 19 September 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In 1920, Frank married a local girl, Ivy Mary Elsie Collins. Records indicate that the couple had twin girls, Nona and Norma, in 1921, but that only Norma survived. The couple would have another child, Patrick William. The Anderson family lived in Corryong, with Frank working as a labourer. In 1947, he was appointed to the position of turncock for the Corryong Waterworks Trust. By 1949, he had become station manager at Cudgewa Station. In 1963, they moved back to Corryong and lived at 32 Pioneer Avenue. Ivy passed away on 31 July 1975. Frank moved to Kyabram to live with his son, Patrick, and his wife, Moira, at 40 Fischer St. Pat taught at a local school.
He died in Kyabram, Victoria, on 21 December 1986, and was buried in Corryong Cemetery
