Cavanagh, Francis Osborn

2359 Company Quarter Master Sergeant Francis Osborn Cavanagh DCM - 11th Battalion AIF

Francis Osborn Cavanagh was born in Fremantle WA in 1879 to John and Roe Cavanagh. He was one of eight children born into the family with, Louisa 1872, Mary 1873, Emma 1875, John 1877, Eveleen 1882, Henry 1885 and Ivy 1888.

The family moved to Roebourne in the 1890's and sadly two of his siblings, Eveleen and Henry both died on the 30th September 1892, his father John then died in Geraldton in December 1892.

In 1905 in Perth he married Gladys Eliza Annie Hollbrook and a son Clair was born in 1905 followed by Norma in 1909 and Jack in 1913.

In 1910 he was a cordial manufacturer living at Charles Street Midland Junction.

On the 28th May 1915 Francis enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Francis's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 146lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment Francis was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He did not have long to train with this group in WA as on the 25th June 1915 they entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Karoola. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there at the end of July 1915.

He only had a few days in Egypt as on the 31st July 1915 Franis was in a group of reinforcements sent to the Dardanelles. After arriving at Gallipoli he was taken on strength of the 11th Battalion on the 4th August 1915. He was thrown straight into the 11th Battalion action at Leane's Post in which they captured a Turkish trench and then held it against several counter attacks.

He survived this action unscathed and then continued to serve with the 11th Battalion for the next few months. On the 4th October 1915 he was wounded by Turkish shrapnel in the arm and back. After initial medical aid at the Field Ambulance, Francis was sent out to a hospital ship which was bound for England.

On arrival in England Francis was sent to No.1 Southern General Hospital at Edgbaston. He remained in hospital for the next few months and upon his health improving in February 1916 was sent to Weymouth Camp. By this stage Gallipoli had been evacuated but the 11th Battalion were in Egypt so Francis was sent back there.

On the 10th March 1916 Francis was taken back on strength of the 11th Battalion AIF. He only had a few weeks in Egypt as on the 29th March 1916 the 11th Battalion departed for France, reaching Marseilles on the 5th April 1916.

The 11th Battalion were sent to the Armentieres region of Northern France and they gained their first experience of the Western Front in this sector. They remained here till June 1916 and were then sent to the Somme battlefield.

On the 23rd July 1916 the 11th battalion took part in the capture of Pozieres village and though casualties were high Francis came through unscathed. After the battle he was appointed Lance Corporal and Francis was at this rank during the August operations at Mouquet Farm.

In September and October 1916 the 11th Battalion were sent to Belgium but by November 1916 they were back on the Somme battlefield. Due to the wet and cold muddy conditions it proved detrimental to the troops health. Francis was evacuated with trench feet and was shipped to England, arriving there on the 14th November 1916. He was admitted to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital where he remained till the 18th December 1916. He was then given a two week furlough after which he reported for duty at Perham Downs Camp. He remained in England until the 8th February 1917 when he returned to France.

On the 24th February 1917 he rejoined the 11th Battalion and almost immediately was involved in the operations at Le Barque and Ligny Thilloy. In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive positions known as the Hindenburg Line and the Australians and British followed up their withdrawal closely and several sharp battles occurred. The 11th Battalion saw action at Morchies, Boursies, Lagnicourt and Bullecourt from March to May 1917. Francis came through this time safely and had been promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant and Company Quarter Master Sergeant. For his good work in this period Francis was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal which was not awarded.

In France from February to August 1917 L/Cpl (now CQMS) Cavanagh has done particularly able work both in and out of the line and has always shown himself to be a brave and resourceful leader. During the operations at Le Barque, Ligny Thilloy and Thilloy France 27th/28th February 1917 did excellent work particularly at Oat Line during the enemy's bombardment, in organising our relief of the 9th Battalion. At Lagnicourt France on the 15th April 1917 During the enemy attack L/Cpl Cavanagh went out under heavy fire when communication was disorganised and brought back to Company Headquarters from the piquet line an accurate report of the situation. After this action he was promoted to Company Quarter Master Sergeant. During the operations at Bullecourt France from 4th to 7th May 1917 C.Q.M.S. Cavanagh showed the utmost zeal for the welfare of his company in the line and never once failed in spite of the very heavy shelling of back areas and lines of communications, to get his ration parties forward with hot food for the men in the line.

From June to August 1917 the 11th Battalion were on a rest period out of the front line with much of the time taken up by training and sporting activities. In September 1917 the 11th Battalion were sent to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres.

On the 16th September 1917 Francis was evacuated to hospital ill but as his unit were about to go into action he returned a few days later and took part in the Battle of Menin Road on September 20th 1917. He survived this action but on the 24th September was again evacuated ill. It was initially described as a PUO or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin. 

Frank was sent to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital and spent nine days there before being shipped to England for further treatment. He was then admitted to a military hospital at Orpington where he spent the next week. He was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital. He was released from hospital soon after and was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.

While he had been released from hospital his medical fitness level was not yet ready to be sent back to France. He remained in England until the 20th December 1917. Frank was then sent back to France, being taken back on strength of his unit on the 28th December 1917. The 11th Battalion were then holding the line in Belgium south east of Ypres.

As a result of the German offensive of March 21st 1918 when they broke through the British front in the southern sector, the five Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division was the last of the divisions to leave Belgium and had just arrived near Amiens when the Germans broke through the line in Belgium and made a speedy advance into northern France. The 1st Australian Division was then returned north and met the Germans around Hazebrouck, Meteren and Merris and for the next few months were in action here.

In August 1918, the 11th Battalion was moved south to Villers-Bretonneux where they would take part in the large advance that was due to take place on August 8th 1918.

The 11th Battalion didn't take part in the first day of the advance but went into the line on the 9th August 1918 and on the following day attacked the German positions at Lihons. The Germans had well entrenched positions and unleashed a heavy machine gun fire on the advancing men of the 11th Battalion. Many of the 11th Battalion were killed and wounded by this fire but Frank had survived the action yet again.

He served with his unit through the next few weeks but on the 12th September 1918 was sent to a school of instruction for a period of duty. Frank had been recommended for another Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions between February to September 1918. The recommendation reads; 

From 25th February to 16th September 1918, he has shown consistent gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations at Lihons and Chuignolles in August he never once failed to get forward and distribute his company's rations, frequently under very heavy enemy machine gun and shell fire. On 23rd August, at Chuignolles he volunteered to get ammunition out to his company when it was most urgently required. This he did successfully, taking the pack mules forward under heavy machine gun fire. Throughout he performed his duties admirably, setting a splendid example to those under him.

Frank rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 30th September 1918. The 11th Battalion were now on a rest period out of the front line. They were just about to return to the front when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.

Once the Germans had withdrawn to behind their own borders, the Australians went into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. Frank remained with his units for a few months but on the 17th January 1919 he was returned to England.

Frank remained in England for the next several weeks but on the 21st March 1919 boarded the transport ship Kildonan Castle and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 27th April 1919. He was discharged from the AIF in September 1919.

After returning from the war, Frank went farming through the 1920's and 30's to 40's at Pickwick Farm South Kumminin. South Kumminin in a small town in the Shire of Narembeen in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.

Frank died at Bruce Rock in WA on the 10th January 1952 aged 72 and buried at Narembeen Cemetery WA.