The AIF Project

Frank Arthur RANCE

Regimental number7543
Date of birth19 July 1898
Place of birthLondon, England
ReligionMethodist
OccupationClerk
AddressWandin Yallock, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinMother, Mrs K B Rance, 129 Harley Road, Harlesden, London, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date27 March 1917
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll3 August 1917
Place of enlistmentBroadmeadows, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Battalion, 25th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 4 August 1917
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 6 October 1919
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance
Discharge date24 November 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 4 August 1917; disembarked Glasgow, Scotland, 2 October 1917; marched in to 2nd Training Bn, Durrington, 3 October 1917.

Found guilty, 25 October 1917, of being absent without leave from 9 am, 13 October, to 3 pm, 24 October 1917: awarded 25 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 40 days' pay.

Reported absent without leave, 21 November 1917; apprehended by Military Police, 4 December 1917.

Found guilty, 10 December 1917, of (1) being absent without leave from 7 am, 22 November, until apprehended in London by Military Police at 1.20 pm, 4 December 1917; (2) when in custody, 4 December 1917, escaping and remaining absent until apprehended, 5 December 1917: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment no 2, and forfeited a total of 46 days' pay.

Reported absent without leave, 13 January 1918; returned to unit, 19 January 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 30 January 1918; taken on strength, 5th Bn, in the field, 5 February 1918.

Found guilty, 23 January 1918, of being absent without leave, Sutton Veny, from 9.30 pm, 13 January, until apprehended by Civil Police at 4 pm, 19 January 1918: awarded 168 days' detention, and forfeited a total of 18 days' pay.

Admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, 18 February 1918, and transferred to 1st Australian Division Rest Station (scabies); discharged to duty, 3 March 1918.

Wounded in action, 27 April 1918 (gas wound: phosgene), and admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, and transfererd to 15th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to 13th USA General Hospital, Boulgne, 30 April 1918; to 10th Convalescent Depot, 10 May 1918; to Base Depot, Havre, 6 June 1918; discharged to unit, 11 June 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 14 June 1918.

Detached to Divisional Signal School, 23 June 1918; rejoined Bn, 21 July 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 12 August 1918 (gun shot wound, left forearm), and admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station; to 9th US General Hospital, Rouen, 13 August 1918; to England, 15 August 1918, and admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich, 16 August 1918; transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 11 September 1918; discharged on furlough, 13 September 1918, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 27 September 1918.

Reported absent without leave, 8 October 1918.

Declared illegal absentee by Court of Enquiry, Sutton Veny, 2 January 1919; apprehended, 14 April 1919.

Reported absent without leave, 20 May 1919; surrendered, 21 July 1919.

Found guilty, District Court Martial, Sutton Veny, 15 August 1919, of being absent without leave from 0900, 8 October 1918, to 1700, 14 April 1919: awarded 12 months' detention.

Admitted to Lewes Detention Barracks, 20 August 1919.

Unexpired portion of sentence remitted as from date of embarkation for Australia (6 October 1919).

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Pakeha', 6 October 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 24 November 1919; discharged (services no longer required), Melbourne, 24 November 1919.

Deemed ineligible for war medals.
Date of death16 August 1984
Age at death86
Place of burialWoronora Cemetery, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, RANCE Frank Arthur

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