The AIF Project

Robert Howard FRANKLAND

Regimental number2799
Place of birthSydney New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCarpenter
Address167 Grafton Street, Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Next of kinMother, Mrs Constance Frankland, 167 Grafton Street, Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales
Enlistment date20 May 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Field Ambulance, C Section
AWM Embarkation Roll number26/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A31 Ajana on 31 May 1915
From Embarkation Records it is not possible to distinguish exactly which ship members of this unit sailed on. Two ships left from Sydney: the 'Ajana' on 31 May 1915 carrying three officers and 98 men and the 'Ceramic' on 25 June 1915 carrying three officers and 129 men.
Rank from Nominal RollRegimental Quartermaster Sergaent
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Field Ambulance
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


For devotion to duty and conspicuously fearless work as streatches bearer.
Recommendation date: 4 October 1916

FateReturned to Australia 11 May 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'On the morning of August 22nd, 1915 at Gallipoli after the attack on Hill 60 Trenches by the 18th Field Ambulance Battalion and their retirement from some of the captures trenches, a number of wounded were left in the open. At dusk Captain Savage of the 5th Field Ambulance acted at once and called for volunteers and organised the parties under Sergeant Long and with these bearers went into the open to search and bring in wounded under continuous rifle and shrapnel fire the whole time during the night. They continued in bright moonlight to go out and search for wounded. The search continued the following night and they brought in over 30 of our wounded men. On one occasion Sergeant Long, Corporal Smith and Private Bryant went almost to the enemy trenches, the New Zealanders holding their fire, and brought in a wounded man. Privates Ramage and Burgess were out collecting wounded when Private Ramage was shot dead. All these men behaved with conspicuous devotion to duty on this occasion and on the night of 27th August, 1915.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.