FRAZER, Francis George

Francis George Frazer was 25 years and nine months old when he enlisted on 14 January, 1915. He was the son of Richard White Frazer and Lillian Brookwell Frazer, nee Cox, and gave as his next of kin his mother, Lilian Frazer, living at 93 Victoria Parade East Melbourne and later at 1107 Hoddle Street. He was a labourer by trade and must have been supported her, because he signed over part of his soldier's pay to go to her. He embarked on HMAT Hororata on 17 April, 1915, just before the disastrous landing at Anzac Cove, landing in Egypt and then joining his battalion at Gallipoli on 25 July. On 14 August, he had an accident, with a contusion to his right foot, when a rock fell out of the embankment leading to his dugout. .In October, he was ill and sent to Lemnos, then on to hospital at Mudros on 8 November, suffering fom gonorrhea, which kept him out of action for a long period. On 2 December, he was transferred from the 18th Stationary Hospital at Mudros to the Australian General Hospital at Abbassia and did not return to duty until 23 March, 1916.  

He was transferred on 26 March from the 8th Battalion to the newly formed 59th Battalion, then taken on strength with the 60th Battalion on 4 April. However, he had not got rid of the gonorrhea and was treated at the 15th Field Ambulance station, before being placed  again at the Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, on 11 April. He was finally discharged to duty on on 31 July, 1916, and sent to the Convalescent Hospital in Alexandria, but was again in hospital with VD on 4 September, 1916 and discharged on 5 January, 1917. In all, he was 124 days under treatment.

From Egypt, Francis George Frazer was sent to England, leaving on the Princess Victoria on 15 January, 1917, and landing at Folkestone on 20 January; on 21 January, according to his record, he was in Etaples, and taken on strength in the field. On 17 February, he was again being treated, this time by the 15th Field Ambulance for infected toenails. He was discharged to duty after twelve days, but the next day was il again, sent to hospital on 1 March. He must have gone back to his battalion again, but was again ill on 19 March, this time with an abcess on his foot treated first by the 5th Field Ambulance, then transfeered to the nearest Casualty Clearing Station. On 9 April, he was transferred to hospital in Rouen, and on 25 April to a convlescent unit there. His ill health continued: on 1 May, he was suffering from influenza at Buchy and transferred to the Base Depot on 7 October, he had bronchitis. He was then given leave, returning to England on 9 November. On 29 November, while again back at the front, he was sent to the Casualty Clearing Station with VD and transferred to the No 39 General Hospital at Havre, where he remained for 50 days.  He was back with the 60th Battalion by April, where he received a penalty of 21 days forfeiture of pay, for being drunk. He was again ill on 18 April and on 20 April, was sent to the L. of C. Hospital.

Francis George Fraser returned to Melbourne on the Takada on 7 September, 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on 6 November.