Francis Joseph Parkinson
Frank Parkinson (Service No 759) was born in Wollongong around 1885.
At enlistment Frank was single, 31 years old, and trained as a carpenter. Frank was the first of 3 brothers to enlist and embarked from Sydney on HMAT A24 Benalla with The Anzac Cyclist Battalion Reinforcement on 9th November 1916.
He arrived in England on 9th January 1917 and arrived in France on 28th April 1917. He joined 18th Battalion on 25th August and saw service on the Western Front until admitted to hospital sick with trench fever on 10th October 1917.
Frank was repatriated to Australia in February 1918 and discharged from the AIF medically unfit on 18th September 1918.
Frank returned to carpentry. In August 1927, while working at the Port Kembla Power House, he had a fall and while he appeared well at the time, a few days later his condition deteriorated and he died in Wollongong hospital from head injuries sustained in the fall.
Frank was a popular member of the Illawarra Male Voice Choir and the Choir sang at his funeral. He is buried in Wollongong Cemetery.
