Bedford, Frank

1159 Gunner Frank Bedford - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Frank Bedford was born in Ulverstone Tasmania on 6th March 1889 to Frank and Emily Bedford. He had a sister Gwendoline born in 1881 and Thomas in 1898.

Moved to WA in the 1900's and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery of the Australian Permanent Forces in 1907.

In 1910/11 he was based at Arthurs Head Fremantle and continued through to the First World War being based at the Artillery Barracks Fremantle.

On the 16th June 1916 he married Annie McCulloch Rennie in Fremantle and a daughter olive was born in 1917.

Many of the Permanent Gunners had been able to enlist in June 1915 and were sent overseas to France to serve with the Siege Artillery Brigades, however some such as Frank had to remain behind. However experienced Gunners were still needed and on the 16th August 1917 Frank was able to enlist.

The medical examiner passed him as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as; 

Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;

Weight - 164lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Frank was sent east and joined up with the other Artillery reinforcements in Victoria.

On the 26th November 1917 Frank left Australia aboard the transport ship Indarra and set sail for England. After the long sea voyage the ship arrived at Southampton on the 2nd February 1918.

After being disembarked Frank was sent to the Heavy Artillery Training camp at Devonport. He was there for a few weeks but on the 6th April 1918 was sent to France. He was taken on strength of the 1st Siege Battery on the 21st April 1918.

They were then in northern France  and Frank continued to serve with them through 1918. On the 7th October 1918 Frank was evacuated wounded when German gas shells had exploded near his Battery. He had been exposed to the gas and was evacuated to medical care. Fortunately the gas exposure was not severe and Frank returned to his unit on the 2nd November 1918.

He remained with his unit till after the Armistice. In March 1919 Frank returned to England and was sent into camp. Frank requested a period of Non Military Employment and this was granted on the 29th April 1919. He was to learn about motor engineering and worked with J.B.O. Tyler at 218 Coldharbour Lane in Brixton.

He completed this employment on the 29th July 1919 and then returned to camp.

On the 3rd September 1919 Frank left England aboard the transport ship Barambah and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 17th October 1919.

Frank was discharged from the AIF on the 7th November 1919.

 After his return home to his family, further children would be born, Frances in 1920, Thora in 1922 and Margaret in 1926.

By 1925 the family were living in Katanning and Frank was working as a carpenter. They then moved back to the Fremantle area and in 1931 were living at McKimmie St Palmyra. 

Frank Bedford died on the 15th January 1933 aged 46. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Presbyterian MON EE 0776