Not Forgotten, 3132 Private Frank James CARD, 48 Battalion AIF, World War 1

Private Frank Card, a labourer in Dowerin, was born in Omeo in Victoria. On 30 October 1916 Private Card enlisted at the age of 23, having been previously rejected for enlistment on account of heart palpitations, and on successful enlistment was placed in the 48th Battalion. At this time both Private Card’s parents were deceased and he gave his next of kin as Arthur Card, then on active service on HMS Encounter. Private Card embarked from Fremantle on HMAT A35 Berrima on 23 December 1916, arrived at Codford Camp on 11 March 1917 and proceeded to France from Southampton on 19 June 1917, being taken on strength with the 48th Battalion on 13 July 1917.

The 48th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 16 March 1916 as part of the “doubling” of the AIF. Roughly half of its new recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 16th Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. The men of the new battalion hailed mainly from regional South Australia and Western Australia. The new battalion formed part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division. It became known as the “Joan of Arc” (the Maid of Orleans) battalion because it was “made of all Leanes” - it was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ray Leane, his brother was the adjutant, and several other relatives were scattered throughout the battalion.

As a part of the continuing Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front Australian, New Zealand and British troops were involved in an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Passchendaele Ridge from the defending Germans on 12 October 1917. The vicious fighting took place in the most appalling of waterlogged conditions. The 3rd Australian Division's attempts to struggle forward to their objective with little artillery protection represented the last major Australian participation in the Third Battle of Ypres.

Frank Card was listed as wounded and missing in the field in Belgium during the Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October 1917 and then posted as killed in action on the same day. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. Despite the efforts of the grave services unit no information about the place of death of Frank Card was available so his brother was asked if he knew anything from correspondence. Arthur Card replied that Frank was a good correspondent and had written on 22 September 1917, but he and his friends had no more information to offer. While after his death some personal effects and deferred pay were to go to Arthur William Card, some personal estate was given to Miss Elise Joynes of Dowerin.

Private Card was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.