Francis Bolton was the younger brother of Reginald Bolton, and like him, lived with his mother and younger brother, Tom, at 'Verona', corner of Clarendon and Gipps Sts., East Melbourne.He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School, Canterbury, Victoria and then took out  Accountancy qualifications and was registered with the Insttute of Accountants, Victoria, before moving to Western Australia for work. He was a Business Manager at the time he enlisted and single, though he was to marry in 1918 on his return from service to Annie Fler Curdy.

Farnk Bolton enlisted on 2 January, 1915, in Melbourne. He had already had experience in the Senior Cadets and had attended Officer Training at Broadmeadows for two years rpior to joining the AIF. once enlisted, he was first sent to AIF Camp at Bendigo in October, 1915, before becoming a Lieutenant with the 15 Reinforcements, 6th Division at Broadmeadows. They embarked on 7 March, 1916, for Alexandria, on board the HMAT 'Wiltshire' A18.

On 3 May, 1916, Frank Bolton was transferred to the 56th Battalion, which left Alexandria for France on 9 June on board H.S. 'Huntsend', disembarking at Marseilles on 29 June . From here, they left for the Western Front, with their first major action at the disastrous Battle of Fromelles on 12 July, 1916. They were to be in the front line for nearly two months. Frank Bolton, however, was wounded with a gunshot wound to the head  on 20 July and was transferred back to hospital in England from Boulogne on 23 July. On his recovery, he was first sent to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, then served with the 14th Training Battalion on 6 October.

By 16 October, 1916, he as back with the 56th Battalion in the field, resuming his duties as Lieutenant. The 56th were still at the Somme and two months later, on 1 December, Frank Bolton was again wounded, this time severely, with a gunshot wound which shattered his upper arm,  fracturing his skull and displacing his head. According to his medical report, he was left with his 'ear totally and permanently destroyed', and 'medically unfit for further service'. He was admitted to the 8th General Hospital at Rouen, and then moved back to England tp the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. once recovered, he went to Cobham Hall to recuperate, but was readmitted to the hospital on on 15 February, 1917.

From here, Frank Bolton was placed on the Supernumerary List, and returned to Australia on board the 'Themistocles' on 2 May, 1917. He received a pension of four pounds a fortnight until March, 1918, when it was reduced to two pounds per fortnight. At this stage he was living at 38 Beach Avenue, Elwood. Though he had married Annie in 1918, on the 1919 Electoral Roll, he was a salesman, but not living with his wife, but was back with his mother at 'Verona' East Melbourne. However, by 1925, he and Annie, now Florence Annie, were living in Boston Rd. , Clayfield, Queensland and he was again working as a manager. There is a death recorded in 1928 of an Annie F. Bolton, of Murwillumbah, who may be his wife, but no further record of either of them is in the Electoral Rolls or other ists..