Frank Ernest Cousens

400px Kalgoorlie Sun 24 Dec 1916 page 6
Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Rutherglen, Victoria
Death	7 Aug 1916
Place of Death	near Poziéres, France
Age at Enlistment	22 years old
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall; weight 151 lbs (68.5kg); dark complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair.
Occupation	saw filer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr William Edward Cousens
Military Information
Reg Number	5076
Date of Enlistment	10 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement transferred to 48th Battalion / 12th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	31 Mar 1916 - 24 Apr 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A9 Shropshire
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Following nine weeks of basic military training in the Blackboy Hill camp, Frank was allocated to the 16th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. He travelled with them to Egypt where he continued his training with the 4th Training Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, including a period where he was guarding the Suez Canal. He also spent from 28 Apr to 1 May in No.2 Australian Stationary Hospital with bronchitis. On 20 May he was reallotted tot he 12th Training Battalion as a reinforcement for the 48th Battalion.

Frank travelled from Alexandria to Marseilles aboard HMT Huntspill, departing on 7 June and arriving 14 Jun 1916. Held initially in the 4th Division Base Depot, he was one of 52 reinforcements that joined the 48th Battalion on 21 Jul 1916 at Berteacourt-les-Dames north west of Amiens, France.

On the night of 7th-8th August, the 48th Battalion relieved the 27th Battalion in the front lines near Poziéres. travelling there via SAUSAGE VALLEY, SUNKEN ROAD, PIONEER TRENCH, CORPSE AVENUE, and TRAMWAY TRENCH. All the while they were under a very heavy artillery bombardment by the enemy, and suffering heavy casualties.

Frank was one of these, receiving wounds to the head and chest. Although he was carried back behind the lines to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance, and then on to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station, he died the same day in the Casualty Clearing Station from those injuries.

COUSENS.-On August 7, 1916, died of wounds received in France, Private Frank Cousens, dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Cousens of Jarrahdale, and brother of Mary, Bob, Jim, Dorrie and Privates Will, Bert, Martin, and Reuben, on active service.

His duty nobly done.

Loved by all who knew him.

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  Punchevillers British Cemetery
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Notes

Buried at Punchvillers Military Cemetery in Plot II; Row E; grave No. 7. Son of William Edwin and the late Mary Elizabeth Cousens of Jarrahdale, Western Australia.