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GRAVESTOCKS, Frank William
| Service Number: | 3610 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1917, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 13 February 1888 |
| Home Town: | Parrakie, Southern Mallee, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Whitwarta Public School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 25 May 1976, aged 88 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Gardens Path 35, Grave 539B Licence expires 27 May 2026 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3610, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3610, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3610, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne | |
| 4 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3610, 3rd Light Horse Regiment | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3610, 3rd Light Horse Regiment |
Frank Gravestocks --- Excerpts From His Letters.
Melbourne Cup Day, 1917.
This is a curse of a boat, to roll. I have only “sold “a couple of meals so far. ………We don’t have to do any drill while it is so rough, that’s one thing. I sent a letter card down on a rope to a girl on the Pilot Boat at Port Melbourne, did Mum get it? Still got that rotten cold, I am afraid I am not cut out for a soldier, but a fellow has only got to die once.
March 1918.
We are camped just outside of Jerusalem, can hear Jacky’s guns from here, though. I am not too anxious to go up as I don’t reckon I’ll stand too much warm water etc, a terrible lot coming down with dysentery. I don’t want any more woollen stuff or writing paper, nor medicine. My eyes are a bit weak and I can pull my hair out in handfuls.
June 1918
Typhus fever has broken out in the Arab quarter. A lot of chaps have got poisoned, a couple have died ……… buying stuff off of the nigger street hawkers.
The seas are rough lately, but not too rough it seems for them German submarines, they bagged 4 ships yesterday, just leaving here, only 16 miles out. I take my hat off to the British Jack tar, and the British airmen, BUT THEY CAN’T TOUCH OUR LADS ON HORSEBACK WITH THE RIFLE.
Submitted 28 October 2015 by Sharyn Roberts
Biography
Frank Gravestocks
Francis William, second child of Thomas and Fanny Gravestocks, was always known as Frank.
Frank was farming in the Mallee at Parrakie when he enlisted. He was plagued with malaria and ill-health and was discharged medically unfit after two years of service in the Middle East.
He married Jessie Young of Geranium and raised a family of one son and five daughters on their farm “Eversden”.
Marjorie, Shirley, Roma ,Bill, Esta and Vera have all continued to live fruitful and resourceful lives.
Frank often wrote letters to the newspapers and was the “reporter “of Parrakie activities for the “The Advertiser “. A loyal community citizen, he was involved in the Agricultural Bureau and served on most local committees. Frank did not participate in any particular sport but always followed the football.
The successful mixed farm was handed over to son Bill, and Frank and Lily retired to Forestville, Adelaide.
Frank died on 25th May 1976, having reached 88 years, and is buried in the Garden of Memory, Centennial Park, Adelaide.
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