Caple, Frank Horace
8807B Private Frank Horace Caple – 53rd Battalion AIF
Frank Horace Caple was born in Fremantle WA in 1891 to William and Charlotte Caple. He was one of several siblings born in the port city, with the family living in South Fremantle. Frank was educated locally and after leaving school he took up work as a horse driver. In 1915 Frank married Edith Lestrange in Fremantle and the couple took up residence in Hulbert Street South Fremantle. They would not remain here together long for on the 26th July 1915 Frank enlisted into the AIF. He went to the Swan Barracks in Perth and was passed as fit. The medical examiner recorded Frank’s physical attributes as;
Height: 5 feet 2 inches;
Weight: 120lbs;
Chest Measurement: 31-33 inches;
Complexion: Fair;
Eyes: Blue;
Hair: Light Brown;
Distinctive Marks: Vaccination scar left arm.
After being passed fit for service Frank was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.1 Depot Training Battalion. He was taken through the basics of infantry work and on the 28th September 1915 Frank was transferred into the 11th Reinforcements to the 12th Battalion AIF. He had just over a month training with this group in WA as at the end of October Frank’s reinforcement group received their departure orders. On the 1st November 1915 Frank’s reinforcement group boarded the HMAT Beltana and set sail for Egypt. The sea journey took just over three weeks and Frank arrived in Egypt towards the end of November. Frank and his group would have been expecting to be sent on to Gallipoli, however the decision had been made to evacuate the Dardanelles so the reinforcements were retained in Egypt.
Frank spent a few weeks in the 3rd Training Battalion but on the 15th December he transferred into a new unit, the 20th Company Australian Army Service Corps. He spent over two months with this group in Egypt but on the 14th March 1916 he was transferred into the newly forming 53rd Battalion AIF of the 5th Division. Frank would train with this group over the next few months in the Egyptian desert and he took part in the infamous 14th Brigade march. The 5th Australian Division was the last Australian infantry division to leave Egypt for France and on the 19th June Frank and his battalion boarded the SS Royal George and set sail for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 28th June 1916.
Interestingly in his records Frank is stated to have been wounded in the thigh on the 29th June, while the battalion were making their way north, however there is nothing further in his service record or battalion war diary as to the nature or cause of the wound. He was initially sent to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne but was then transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital.
Having been wounded on the battalion’s first full day in France meant that Frank wasn’t with them when the 53rd Battalion fought at Fromelles. He only rejoined the 53rd Battalion on the 4th September 1916 in the vicinity of Fleurbaix. Frank was appointed a Driver to the Transport section and he would have been kept busy in keeping the battalion supplied. In October the 5th Division moved to the Somme front near Flers and it was here that they would spend the 1916/17 winter.
Frank’s task during this period would have been difficult due to the horrible muddy conditions the infantry and transport had to daily traverse. The battalion had a lot of men hospitalised due to sickness during this period though Frank’s health appears to have stayed good.
In late February 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The 5th Division was among the units pressing the German retirement and the 53rd Battalion saw action near Bapaume.
Once the Germans were behind the Hindenburg Line there were two battles fought for the vital town of Bullecourt. The first battle didn’t succeed in April so a second battle was fought in May. The 2nd & 1st Australian Divisions were the first involved but were then reinforced with the 53rd Battalion and other elements of the 5th Division. Frank was severely wounded in the arm on the 10th May 1917. He was initially treated at the 8th Field Ambulance before being sent to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, where he remained until the 8th June. Frank was then put on an ambulance train and sent to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen.
Frank’s wound was considered serious enough by the medical officers that on the 26th June he was sent to England for further treatment. He was admitted to Devonport Military Hospital where he remained under treatment until the 13th August 1917. Unfortunately Frank had to have his arm amputated which was why he remained in hospital so long. On the 13th August Frank was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
Due to the amputation of the arm the decision was made to repatriate Frank to Australia. On the 26th September 1917 Frank was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth and it was here that he would wait for a ship’s berth back to Australia. On the 31st October 1917 Frank boarded the HMAT Berrima and set sail for Western Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 22nd December 1917.
Frank was then sent to No.8 AGH in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical check up but was soon released and was able to spend Christmas 1917 with his family. He was discharged from the AIF on the 20th June 1918. Frank lived in South Fremantle for the remainder of his life and died on the 8th April 1956. He is buried in Fremantle Cemetery Plot Anglican MonA4 0212



