~~~GILES, Frank_Australian Imperial Force_ AIF_The Great War. (Service)~~~~~~~~~
Parents:--- William Edward and Honoria Giles
Australian Imperial Force Service No:--- 1721
Religion:--- Roman Catholic
Education:--- Public School, MIntaro, & Christian Brothers College, Adelaide, South Australia
Home Address:--- 144 William Street, Norwood, South Australia
Home Town:--- Mintaro, Clare and Gilbert Valleys, South Australia
Trade/Calling:---Survey Hand.
Martial status:--- single
Next of kin:--- Father, Mr William Edward Giles, 144 William Street, Norwood, South Australia.
Attested into AIF:--- 4th January 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia.
Age on enlistment:---29 years and 2 months
Rank on enlistment:--- Private
Unit on enlistment:--- 16th Australian Infantry Battalion, 4th Reinforcement.
Embarkation details:---Adelaide, South Australia, aboard HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 1 April 1915.
Final Rank:--- Sergeant
Final Posting:--- 48th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF.
Fate:--- Killed in Action_ 5th August 1916_Battle of Pozieres, France
Burial:--- No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Commemorated:---Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour,,
Commemorated:--- illers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
Commemorated:--- Mintaro Roll of Honour WW1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Adelaide Register - 3 July 1917.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Messrs. A. and H. Giles, Broken Hill trade unionists, have received word that their brother, Pte. Frank Giles, has been killed in action in France. Pte Giles spent a number of years at Broken Hill and then went to Sydney, where be became the Secretary of the Federated Iron Workers' Union. He has left a widow and five children."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bio details by Contributor: Andy (48021049)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lance Corporal Frank Giles, 16th Battalion Australian Infantry, wrote from Egypt on 5th January 1916 to offer belated thanks for the Christmas gift that he had received while still at Lemnos.
"I am a bit late in thanking you for the billy I was lucky enough to receive, and you so kind and thoughtful to send. I congratulate you on the variety you managed to get into the billy, for everything was most acceptable, useful, and enjoyable. The bandage I am keeping in case of need. I have on one occasion required a bandage, but it was not a bad wound. [1] We had left the trenches and were in Lemnos three days before Christmas, and received our billies on Christmas eve. We all then became children again, and went around comparing the contents, just the same as we did when we were youngsters on Christmas Day. Fred Powell, who was known as "Wilkie" at Wallaroo, is one of our battalion, and wishes to be remembered to you. I hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas, and wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. Again thanking you, I am, yours sincerely." [2]
Transferred to 48th Battalion Australian Infantry at Tel-el-Kebir on 3rd March 1916, he moved with his new unit to France. Promoted, Sgt. Frank Giles was killed in action on 5th August 1916.
Commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial, he was the 30 year-old son of William Edward and Honoria Giles, of 144 William Street, Norwood, South Australia.
[1] Giles was wounded, a bullet wound to his cheek, on 8th August 1915. Though not a "bad" wound, he recuperated for two months in Egypt before rejoining his unit.
[2] 'The Kadina and Wallaroo Times' (South Australia), 4th March 1916.
Contributor: Andy (48021049)