Patrick Francis Timbs

Submitted by Shellharbour Ci... on Thu, 30/04/2015 - 11:28

First Name:

Patrick

Middle Name:

Francis

Last Name:

Timbs

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, November 30, 1886

Mother's Name:

Mary Ann Timbs (nee Scanlan)

Father's Name:

Gabriel Timbs

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, December 1, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

8th Light Horse

Company:

1st Reinforcement

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

Anzac Medal

Victory Medal

British War medal

1914/ 15 Star

Date of Death:

Sunday, November 30, 1947

Place of Death:

Sydney

Details:

Patrick Francis (Frank) Timbs (Service No 659) was born in 1887 to Gabriel Timbs II and Mary Ann Scanlon. Gabriel started a coach business in Albion Park in the mid-1890s which operated for many years. He was elected Town Clerk of the Municipality of Shellharbour 2 May 1906 and continued in that position for 31 years until his resignation in 1937. He also held the position of Town Clerk of Jamberoo Municipality from 1907-1933.

Frank Timbs fought with the Anzacs during World War One with the Light Horse and Infantry. According to one of Frank's AIF friends, new recruits would be brought to Frank’s niche in the trenches and instructed by officers ‘This is the way we expect you to store your equipment’. (Journey Through Timbs 1997)

During his service at Gallipoli, Frank was severely wounded in a bombs blast which left wounds to his back, arm and leg. He was taken to a British hospital where he met His Majesty King George V who shook Franks hand and thanked him and others for their support during the war. Frank was forced to have his leg amputated.

Frank was presented with a gold medal by the people of Albion Park which read; 'Presented to Pte P F Timbs By the residents of Albion Park & District on the occasion of his return from active service from Gallipoli, Fleubaix, Bapaume, The Somme & Passchendaele 1914-1918'.

During the 1930s Frank and his friends Cec Benson owned greyhound racing dogs which Frank trained at his father’s place at Albion Park. He built a track on land west of the house and people would bring their greyhounds to the track to train. In 1921 Alderman Armstrong unveiled a war trophy presented to the Municipality of Shellharbour. The machine gun capable of firing 180 shots per minute was captured by the 53rd Battalion AIF at Peronne in 1917 in an advance that by pure coincidence, Gunner Frank Timbs participated in. This was the same advance in which he was badly wounded. (Kiama Reporter 23 March 1921) The machine gun was placed on a concrete plinth next to the Council Chambers at Albion Park by Gunner Timbs. (Source The Timbs Family Tree Incorporated, 1997, Journey Through Timbs. Kiama Reporter 23 March 1921 Tongarra Museum collection).

Sources:

Jourbey Through Timbs, The Timbs Family Tree, 1997

NAA: B2455, TIMBS PATRICK FRANCIS