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Frank Douglas Fryer - Information

When the war commenced, Frank was residing in Casino near Richmond Rivers with his family. He was a son of Richard and Elizabeth born in Camden c1888. The family lived in the Camden area for some time before they relocated to Casino. Here, Frank began working as a telegraph linesman. When he was 27, he decided to enlist in the AIF, joining up in Newcastle on the 9th of October 1916. Some of Frank’s relatives had already signed up to serve overseas. He commenced his training at the Newcastle Depot, where he was assigned to the 24th Reinforcements, 4th Battalion as a Private. He was sent abroad from Sydney onboard the HMAT Suevic on the 11th of November 1916.

Frank disembarked in Devonport, England at the end of January 1917, and was marched into Larkhill Camp for further instruction. He was then taken on strength to the 17th Field Ambulance at Windmill Hill. Frank remained in England transporting wounded and sick troops. In early October, he was feeling unwell and was admitted to hospital at Parkhouse. When he was released at the end of October, he was marched out to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth for Army Medical Corps Details. However, by the end of the year, his poor health again caught up with him, suffering with tachycardia. Classed as unfit for duty, he was invalided home. He departed England on the 10th of January 1918, and was medically discharged in April.