The AIF Project

Frank Leicester COUSINS

Regimental number3296
Place of birthLaancoorie, Victoria
SchoolTarnagulla State School, Victoria
ReligionBaptist
OccupationSchool teacher
AddressLawrence Street, Dunolly, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation28
Height5' 3"
Weight144 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs M Cousins, Lawrence Street, Dunolly, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date17 July 1915
Place of enlistmentBendigo, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 11 October 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll2nd Lieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death29
Age at death from cemetery records28
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 14), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
167
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Mary COUSINS and the late George COUSINS; Wife: Mary COUSINS, Lawrence St., Dunolly, Victoria. Native of Tarnagulla, Victoria.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to, and proceeded to 59th Bn from 2nd Training Bn, Zeitoun, 26 February 1916; taken on strength of 59th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 26 February 1916, and reverts to the rank of Private.

Promoted Sergeant, 4 March 1916.

Promoted to Second Lieutenant, Moascar, 1 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19 July 1916.

Now, 4 August 1916, to be reported as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 820110, 2nd Lt J.E.G. TURNOVER, 59th Bn, 30 October 1916: 'Concerning Mr. Cousins, he was wounded on the 19th July, just after leaving our trenches. I endeavoured to get out to him, but owing to the heavy casualties was unable to get, as far as him, our time being occupied on cases in our own trench, wegot in as many as we could, but I regret to say we were unable to get in Mr. Cousins, as far as I know I don't think he was got in, and I am very much afraid he perished of wounds in No Man's Land.'

Second statement, 3686 Sergeant S. BENT, A Company, 59th Bn, 4 August 1916: 'I saw him wounded and fall about 20 yards from our parapet at Fleurbaix on July 19th 1916. He went down as if badly hit. Machine gun fire was playing heavily at this point.'

Third statement, 3876 Corporal C.C. NETHERCOTE, 59th Bn (patient, No 14 General Hospital, Boulogne), 15 August 1916: 'Mr. Cousins was my platoon officer, C.X. I was with him all day on July 19th (I think) - a Wednesday - in our front trench. He was steadying the men as they came up from the saps and keeping all our spirits up. We went over the top at 7 p.m. His men followed him through the barbed wire and then spread out. After about 150 yards I saw him drop. I went on another 100 yards and fell wounded, and lay out two nights and a day. They took the trenches but had to fall back to our own or would have brought us in.'

Fourth statement, 2351 Pte F. EARL, 59th Bn, 10 October 1917: 'I last saw Casualty blowing his whistle whilst leading his men in a raid at Pozieres on the 19th July. When he went on the parapet a shell burst and killed him. Tis is the last I saw of him.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert[.] by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsName entered in correctly on Embarkation Roll as Frank Leslie COUSINS.
SourcesNAA: B2455, COUSINS Frank Leicester
Red Cross file 820110

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