PROMOTING THE HISTORY AND ARCHIVES OF MT COMPASS
Simons, Francis
Francis “Frank” Simons (Rank: Driver)
He was born in Edwardstown on 14th February 1899 to Albert Henry Simons & Elizabeth Emily Simons (nee Gravestocks). The family moved to Mount Compass in 1916 to a property on Nangkita Road where they ran a small dairy and market garden.
Frank enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 19th September 1917 soon after turning 18 years of age. The application was stamped “Not to embark before 19th Birthday” however his parents signed a letter consenting to his early embarkation on condition that he join the 3rd Light Horse Reinforcements. With his occupation recorded as a farrier, his ability to work with horses may have influenced this decision. He also stated that he had previously been a member of the ‘Senior Cadets’.
On 30th April 1918, Trooper Frank Simons boarded the troop ship ‘HMAT Port Darwin’ which headed for the port of Suez in the Middle East. While on this ship he was hospitalised for 3 days with influenza.
His service medical records show that Frank was hospitalised on other occasions, first with fever and then malaria.
Although in and out of medical care, Frank served as a Driver following his transfer to the 1st Field Squadron Australian Engineers in Egypt. He also travelled as part of the convoy to capture Damascus (Syria) where he suffered his first attack of malaria. (It was this convoy that featured in the Lawrence of Arabia movie).
Photographs found in a collection box stored by Frank, show men from the 1st Field Squadron Australian Engineers lined up alongside substantial horse drawn wagons, each with a driver holding the reins to a team of four horses. This would appear to be the role undertaken by Frank (see attached photo) .
He returned to Australia in July 1919 and was discharged in September that year.
Frank became involved with the Mt Compass community in various ways. He performed with the local Mutual Improvement Society’s ‘Pierrots’ who held shows around the region helping to raise funds for a Hall piano. At various times he also accepted the roll of Auditor for the Hall Committee and served on this committee in other years. His physical condition must also have been reasonable in the 1920s as he was a player in the first Nangkita-Mt Compass Football team of 1924 and also played for the Tennis Club around this time.
The health problems Frank had faced while serving during World War 1 may have left him susceptible to TB (tuberculosis), which he contracted after his return to civilian life. This was the disease that caused his premature death at the age of 41 on 25th October 1940 in Keswick’s Repatriation Hospital. (This hospital was relocated to Daws Park not long after his passing.)
Frank Simons is buried in the AIF Cemetery on West Terrace, Adelaide. He remained single throughout his life.
References: Simons Family History notes & other documents stored in MC Archives, “A guide Behind The Lines” by Richard Kleinig, trove.nla.gov.au , National Archives of Australia.
