S5891
BRIGHTON, Frank
| Service Number: | 41 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 January 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Prospect, South Australia, November 1880 |
| Home Town: | Port Pirie, Port Pirie City and Dists, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 41, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 41, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 41, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Apr 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 41st Infantry Battalion, Transferred from 43rd infantry battalion. | |
| 20 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Transferred from 41st infantry battalion. | |
| 3 Aug 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 41, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Warneton, Sustained a gun shot wound (GSW) down his left thigh during heavy gunfire. | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 41, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Deemed medically unfit by doctors to continue service and was retired to Australia. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Life before the war:
Frank Brighton, husband to wife Mrs. Lillian Myrtle Nellie Brighton, lived his life as a Baptist. His trade was a labourer. Brighton was born in approximately November 1880 in Prospect, SA. He later relocated to Montague Street, Port Pirie, SA.
When he enlisted he was 35 years and 2 months old with a fresh completion, weighing 148lbs (67kg) standing at an astonishing 5 feet and 1 and ¾ inches tall. This would have prohibited him from joining in the wars earlier years as were candidates of only 5 foot six and over were allowed to enlist. With brown hair and blue eyes, it was identified that he had perfect vision (Left side 6/6, Right side 6/6) with a chest width of 35-38 inches.
Life during the war:
As of the 18th of January 1916, Frank Brighton officially enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He held the rank of private and service number 41. He was assigned to the 43rd Battalion and travelled with them to Marseilles in July 1916 and then onto England for further training. In November 1916 they travelled to France for the first time and then to the front line. In April 1917 Brighton was transferred to the 41st Battalion for unknown reasons and then on 17 July 1917, transferred back to the 43rd Battalion.
Only two weeks later, on 31 July 1917, Brighton was badly wounded in the battle of Warneton. He was wounded in the thigh and evacuated to hospital, first in France and then to Netley in England.
Having arrived in Netley (8 August 1917) he was immediately advised to the Royal Victorian where he was prescribed proper treatment and placed on a drip supplying antibiotics to the inflicted area aka his left thigh. He was then relocated as of 18 September 1917 to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford as circumstances applied that he move due to demand for bed space.
During this time two documents had been sent to the wife of Mr. F. Brighton regarding her husband’s state of heath having been endangered in the field of battle. Sent on the 16/817 the first letter reads that he has been reported wounded as of 3/8/17. The second dated 25/8/17 listed further information about the topic as an upbringing has occurred and the state of his condition has altered. It advises that the situation require further treatment as their resources are unable to treat a wound of his severity so in place has been sent to be medicated and cured at a designated medical facility (Royal Victorian Hospital).
Only a few days passed (24/9/1917) was he dispatched to Deport to Weymouth arriving a day short of a week later (30/9/1917). Deemed medically unfit by doctors to continue service he was retired to Australia via the boat “A35” from England on 31/10/17. Here he had officially concluded his time in service completing a total of 1 year and 362 days.
Nothing is known of his later life.
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