Comery, Francis Ernest

No.250 – Private Francis Ernest Comery - 16th Battalion AIF

Francis was the first of the Comery’s to enlist in the Great War. He had been born in Fremantle on the 19^th May 1890 to Rueben and Mary Comery. The family lived in Pakenham Street and Frank was educated nearby at Fremantle State School. After leaving school Frank took up the trade of Blacksmith’s Striker.

On the 16^th September 1914 Frank went directly to Blackboy Hill Camp to enlist in the AIF. He was medically assessed by Captain Roy McGregor of the AAMC, who recorded Frank’s physical attributes as; 5 feet 6 inches in height; weight of 140lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.

Frank was immediately assigned to the original “D” Company of the 16^th Battalion AIF. He trained with his new unit at Blackboy Hill Camp for the next several weeks. On November 21^st 1914 the 16^th Battalion, under the command of Lt-Colonel Pope, entrained for Fremantle Harbour where the men boarded two steamers, the SS Indarra and SS Dimboola. The steamers departed for Victoria and after arriving at Port Melbourne the men were sent to Broadmeadows Camp to join the rest of the 4^th Brigade in training. Amid all the training a noteworthy event was held on the 17^th December 1914 when the 4^th Brigade marched through Melbourne to cheering crowds.

Five days later on the 22^nd December 1914, the 16^th Battalion travelled to Port Melbourne where they boarded the HMAT Ceramic. The convoy of ships left Melbourne and reached Albany on December 28^th. No shore leave was given to the WA soldiers in Albany and on the 31^st December the convoy sailed to Egypt, reaching Port Said on the 31^st January 1915. The following day the ship berthed at Alexandria and the men were disembarked and sent to camp at Heliopolis. The eight companies were now changed to four and Frank now became part of “B” Company. The Battalion was trained hard over the next two months and on the 12^th April 1915 the 4^th Brigade set sail for Lemnos.

The 16^th Battalion landed at Anzac Cove in the late afternoon of April 25^th 1915 and were immediately sent to the area that would bear their commander’s name, Pope’s Hill. The fighting for the first few days was very confusing as rumours spread of Indian troops out in front and on the night of April 25^th a few of the 16^th were captured due to this confusion. The 16^th initially faced fire from the front, sides and rear until decent trenches were built. Frank survived the first two weeks at Anzac including the horrendous assault over Dead Man’s Ridge, but he was soon evacuated due to tonsillitis. By the 13^th May he was back in Egypt, having been hospitalised in Alexandria where he was also diagnosed with rheumatism. On the 4^th June Frank was sent to a convalescent camp at Mustapha. He had a week’s stay here and on the 11^th June he was transferred for duty to the Overseas Base Camp. His health had been improving but in early July 1915 Frank contracted venereal disease which set his fitness back. He spent a week in Abbassia base hospital and the decision was made to return Frank to Australia where he could properly recuperate. On the 4^th August 1915 Frank boarded the HMT Port Lincoln at Suez and set sail for Australia.

After arriving in Melbourne just over three weeks later, Frank was put into an isolation camp for a few days until the 6^th September 1915. He was then sent to Broadmeadows Camp before returning to Fremantle. He returned to his civilian work as a Blacksmith Striker and in 1916 he married Ida Elliott in Perth. They set up residence in Parkerville WA. A daughter Marjorie would be born in 1917.

His health having now improved, Frank enlisted again in 1916. He retained his original regimental number and was assigned to the 21^st Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion AIF. On the 13^th October 1916 Frank boarded the HMAT Port Macquarie in Fremantle Harbour with his reinforcements group and set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 12^th December 1916. After being disembarked Frank and his group were sent to the 4^th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. On the 24^th December Frank was admitted to the Camp hospital with Influenza, but by the 3^rd January 1917 his health had improved and he was returned to training.

The next several weeks were spent in training on the wintry Salisbury Plains and on the 15^th February Frank was in a draft of soldiers sent to Folkestone Harbour. They boarded the SS Victoria which took them across the Channel to France. On the 16^th February Frank marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. He spent the next month here, only rejoining the 16^th Battalion on the 18^th March 1917. There would have been few familiar faces for Frank from the battalion that he had left at Gallipoli.

At this stage of the war the Germans were withdrawing behind their Hindenburg Line. The 16^th Battalion were given a prominent part in the action on 11^th April 1917 to capture Bullecourt. They followed their courageous leader, Major Percy Black into the Hindenburg Line positions, the German fire continually knocking over the advancing men. Major Black was soon killed but the men against all odds tried to hold onto their gains. During the advance Frank made it through the thick belts of wire into the German lines but was badly wounded in the ankle, legs, hands and head. With no ammunition or supplies coming through the survivors had two options, either withdraw or surrender. With Frank’s wounds he had no hope of returning to his own lines and he was taken prisoner by the Germans.

Due to his wounds Frank was sent to a German hospital in Hannover for treatment. In October 1917 he was sent to Soltau from Verden Lazarett; and on the 14^th April 1918 Frank was sent to Holland for repatriation. Frank was soon moved from neutral Holland to England where he was admitted to King George Hospital in Stanford. Frank remained in this hospital for the next several weeks and on the 17^th June he boarded a hospital ship for the journey to Australia. He was discharged from the AIF on the 5^th September 1918.

After his return from the war Frank and his family moved to Bassendean and he began work for the WA Government Railways Workshops in Midland. He and Ivy would have several children over the next thirteen years though unfortunately Walter would die in 1931 aged just 10 years old and Marjorie in 1945 aged 28.

Frank Comery died on the 24^th October 1951. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.