MANSFIELD, Frank

Frank was born in the Warialda district in 1892 to David and Mary Mansfield. He was a twenty three year old Labourer at Mt. Russell, near Inverell, when he enlisted in December 1915.  He joined with the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs who left Inverell together on 12 January 1916 for the Narrabri and Armidale Camps.

He became a Private with the 33rd Battalion, C Company and trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916.  After nine weeks at sea, the Battalion arrived in England where further training was undertaken at Salisbury Plain. This Battalion became part of the 3rd Division which was sent to France in November and initially camped at Armentieres. 

Early in 1917 Frank had an injured foot which required treatment at the Casualty Clearing Station. After about a fortnight he rejoined his unit. During the Battle of Messines on 8 June 1917 he was wounded and evacuated to England for hospital treatment for a gunshot wound to his left arm. Subsequently Frank was returned to Australia in September 1917 and medically discharged.

Frank married in 1922 and during the 1930s was living at Bingara NSW where he died in 1968. Private Frank Mansfield is remembered at Inverell where his name is inscribed on the town’s Honor Roll. 

Photo: contributed from Private collection