Soldier profiles

Name : ALLEN, FRANK ABIL
Service Number : VX57254
Date of Birth : 29/08/1901
Place of Birth : DIMBOOLA, VIC
Known as :
Occupation on Enlistment : LABOURER
Date of Enlistment : 05/06/1941
Locality on Enlistment : WYCHEPROOF, VIC
Place of Enlistment : ROYAL PARK, VIC
Next of Kin : ALLEN, ELSIE
Rank (at time of discharge / death) : PRIVATE
Service : ARMY
Final Posting : 2/2 PIONEER BATTALION
Position / Platoon / Company (as 2/2 Pioneer) (date / details) :
Unit Transfers / Promotions (date / details) :
Theatres of War : SYRIA, JAVA
Actions :
Wounded (date / details) :
Discharged : 14/12/1945
Date Died : N/A
Community Roll of Honour : N/A
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : N/A
K.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
D.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
M.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. (location/s) : JAVA
Died P.O.W. (date / details) : NO
P.O.W. Camps (details) : THAILAND
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : THAILAND
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : Australian War Memorial B-JAVA-0003 Missing & POW Circular
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 6123882 [DIGITISED], Barcode 1037333 [NOT EXAMINED]), WW2 Nominal Roll, Australian War Memorial, Past article (size 53kB), Headstone [photo courtesy of C. Judkins]

Background :

Service & personal summary Husband of Elsie Allen. At enlistment : married. Cadet with C.M.F. previous military experience. Was in reserved industry before enlistment At discharge : height 5 feet 10.5 inches, blue eyes, fair complexion, dark hair. Marital status : married. Children : 3 under 16 years old and 1 16 years & older Marks / scars : birthmark front of right leg pigmented, scar 2nd toe right foot, scar left cheek Full time war service : A.I.F. 05/06/1941 to 14/12/1945 which included 1654 days active service (54 days active service within Australia & 1450 days overseas). Operational service : Java area (embarked from Australia 02/11/1941, disembarked in Australia 21/10/1945). War badge no. 274437. Discharge certificate no. 314541.

Service record
05/06/1941 Taken on strength Recruit Reception Depot Royal Park, Victoria.
07/06/1941 Granted leave without pay 07/06/1941 to 13/06/1941 inclusive.
14/06/1941 Rejoined unit from leave without pay.
20/06/1941 Transferred to Engineering Training Depot (Pioneer Wing) Puckapunyal, Seymour, Victoria.
21/06/1941 Transferred from Recruit Reception Depot.
23/06/1941 Transferred to Pioneer Wing Puckapunyal, Seymour, Victoria.
08/07/1941 Posted to 4 Reinforcements 2/2 Pioneer Battalion Puckapunyal, Seymour, Victoria.
21/08/1941 Detached to Headquarters 6 Training Battalion Darley Camp, Bonegilla, Victoria.
16/10/1941 Rejoined unit from 6 Training Battalion Darley Camp, Bonegilla, Victoria.
02/11/1941 Embarked Sydney, New South Wales on H.M.T. L.L. Convoy 13.
24/11/1941 Disembarked Middle East.
11/01/1942 Marched out to 2/2 Pioneer Battalion Middle East.
21/01/1942 Taken on strength 2/2 Pioneer Battalion from Pioneer Training Battalion.
31/01/1942 Embarked Middle East on S.S. Orcades.
18/02/1942 Disembarked Batavia, Java.
07/03/1942 Reported missing in action in Java.
30/04/1942 Reported missing in action, Java and transferred to X list.
24/08/1942 Reported missing in action believed prisoner of war.
18/09/1943 Reported prisoner of war.
13/12/1943 Interned Thailand camp and transferred to Thai camp.
22/12/1943 Reported interned in Thailand prisoner of war camp.
15/08/1945 Granted proficiency pay.
06/10/1945 Embarked Singapore on M.V. Highland Brigade.
21/10/1945 Disembarked Melbourne, Victoria.
29/11/1945 Admitted 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria.
30/11/1945 Evacuated from 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria to 50 Convalescent Hospital.
30/11/1945 Admitted from 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria to 50 Convalescent Hospital.
03/12/1945 Discharged from 50 Convalescent Hospital to General Details Depot, Victoria.
03/12/1945 Marched into General Details Depot ex 50 Convalescent Hospital.
05/12/1945 Marched out to Australian Military Forces Discharge Depot.
14/12/1945 Discharged Royal Park, Victoria.