Frank Drew

A Private with the 51st Battalion, Frank died on 3rd of September 1916 at the age of 36.

Frank was born at Lowestoft in 1880, a son of Edward and Catherine Drew. In 1881 his family lived at 1 Burton’s Cottages, Lowestoft. In 1891 they lived at Rotterdam Road. 

In 1898 Frank was bound over for stealing cigarettes. In 1899 he was convicted, along with John Thompson, of robbery with violence and sent to prison for six months. 

In 1901 Frank worked as a railway labourer and lodged at 2 Nursery Villas, Crayford, Kent. In 1904 he was convicted of ‘feloniously representing himself to be a Police officer for an unlawful purpose’ and was sent to prison for four months.

Frank married Emily Edith Easter in 1905.

In 1907 Frank was working as a labourer and living at 54 Tonning Street when he was convicted on two counts of stealing metal from Messrs. Davis and Company. He was sent to prison for six months with hard labour. 

In 1911 Frank and Emily lived at 11 Bevan Street and Frank worked as a window cleaner. In 1926 Emily married Thomas Stimpson.

Frank emigrated to Australia in May 1912, to work as a farm labourer. Frank attested for the Australian Army at Perth, Western Australia, on 21 June 1915. He stated that he was an iron worker and that his next of kin was his sister, Kate Champ, of 71 Moore Street, Melbourne.

Frank joined the 15th Depot Company. He was then posted to the 8th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion. Frank embarked on the ‘Anchises’ at Freemantle on 2 September 1915. On 12 December 1915 he was taken on strength of the 11th Battalion at Sarpi Camp, Lemnos. On 15 December 1915 he was admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, at Lemnos, with scabies and was transferred to the 3rd Australian General Hospital. On 7 January 1916 Frank was admitted to 15th General Hospital, at Alexandria, with jaundice and was transferred to the 1st Australian General Hospital, at Heliopolis, on 17 January 1916.

Frank was discharged to duty, at Giza, on 18 February 1916and rejoined his unit on 6 March 1916. On 3 April 1916 he was transferred to the 51st Battalion. He sailed from Alexandria on 5 June 1916 and arrived at Marseilles on 12 June 1916. 

On 22 June 1916 Frank was ‘warned’ to proceed to the front line but was found to be drunk and arrested. On 1 July 1916 he faced a Court Martial and found guilty and sentenced to two months Field Punishment No 2. He had previously been charged with two counts of absence.   

Frank was reported missing on 3 September and, if fact, he had been killed in action on that date. He was buried one mile east of Thiepval and four miles north-east of Albert (map sheet 57.d) by men from the 3rd Cavalry Division dismounted party. 

Frank’s personal effects, a steel box, and a knife, were forwarded to his sister.