NAME: Frank Morrissey                                                                                         

SERVICE NO:  14

YEAR OF BIRTH:  1896

PLACE OF BIRTH:  Galaquil

DATE OF ENLISTMENT: 11 February 1916

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:  Hamilton

AGE AT ENLISTMENT:  20

UNIT: 10th Infantry Brigade Headquarters (late 39th Battalion)

EMBARKED:  27 May 1916

TROOP SHIP:  A11 Ascanius

FATE:  Killed in Action – 29 September 1918 – France

Frank Morrissey was born at Galaquil near Beulah, the son of John Morrissey and Alicia Mary Chamney.  He attended Beulah State School but as his family moved, he attended Hamilton, Tarrington and Strathkellar State Schools.  When Frank completed school he started work for the Commercial Bank, however ill health saw him leave the bank and take up farming.  Frank served in the junior cadets and when older the 20th Corangamite Light Horse C Squadron in Hamilton reaching the rank of Sergeant.

On 11 February 1916, Frank enlisted at Hamilton.  His commanding officer Lieutenant Hyslop wrote a letter of recommendation for Frank to join the light horse and the medical officer at enlistment also endorsed him for the light horse.  But it was not to be with Frank assigned to 39th Battalion. He remained with them until April 1916 when he transferred to the 10th Infantry Brigade with whom he left  overseas.

On 5 February 1917 while in Rouen France, Frank was dispatched to the 37th Battalion until 10 May.  He then served with the 3rd Anzac Echelon until November 1917 when he rejoined the 10th Infantry Brigade Headquarters.  On 6 January 1918, Frank was disciplined for disobeying orders by driving two mules with a limber cart at a trot and lost two days pays. In July 1918, the 10th Infantry Brigade Headquarters was located at the Chateau de Querrieu (below) in northern France during a rest period.

In September 1918, the 10th Infantry Brigade moved close to the Hindenburg Line   According to 10th Brigade orders from 21 September Headquarters staff would go to the 37th or 38th Battalion. On 29 September, the 10th Brigade were part of the forward push toward the Hindenburg Line with the American forces in the Battle of St Quentin Canal.

The allied forces ultimately broke through the Hindenburg Line but it came at a great loss of men.  One of those killed was Frank Morrissey on 29 September 1918.

Frank is remembered on the Hamilton War Memorial and Strathkellar Honour Roll.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Australian War Memorial – 10th Infantry Brigade Unit Diary

Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour – Frank Morrissey

Australian War Memorial WW1 Embarkation Roll – Frank Morrissey

Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile, France – Frank Morrissey

Discovering Anzacs – WW1 Service Record – Frank Morrissey

Newspaper Articles from Trove – Frank Morrissey

The AIF Project – Frank Morrissey

The War Graves Photographic Project – Frank Morrissey