FRISBY, John Albert

John was born in Leicestershire, England to Henry and Lydia Frisby.  He came to Australia about 1912 and worked as a Farm Labourer for Mr. Lowry at the property Glencush, Spencers Gully near Inverell. When he enlisted in September 1915 he was just twenty years of age.  With a group of thirty one other volunteers, John was farewelled at the Inverell Town Hall on 9 September 1916 and presented with the Inverell medal and two pairs of socks.  Preceded by the Austral Band, these men joined a large procession to the Railway Station to begin their journey to serve King and County.

John became a member of the 30th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement which sailed from Australia on HMAT A70 Ballarat in February 1916, arriving in Egypt the following month.  By June the Battalion had been sent to France.  Just over twelve months later John was wounded in action and sent to the Casualty Clearing Station for treatment of a gunshot wound to his thigh.  A week after returning to his unit in October 1917, he suffered shell shock requiring treatment until January 1918.  Private Frisby returned to Australia by the ship Inderra in September 1919 and was medically discharged in January 1920. 

Whilst on leave in England in 1919 he married Ellen Hundley at Leicester.  After the War, John obtained a Soldier Settlers block near Casino where he and his wife lived for many years.  John died in 1957 and is buried at Casino NSW. His name is recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll.

Photo: provided by family