Frank Edgar Parkes LYNALL

Frank Lynall was born on 12 July 1893 in Brunswick, Victoria. His parents were George Charlton Peters and Florence (née Parkes) Lynall. He attended Scotch from 1907 to 1910.

Frank was a Brunswick City Council clerk when he enlisted on 5 July 1915 at Melbourne. He served in the 5th Battalion with the rank of Private. His Regimental Number was 3328. An older brother, George (not an old Scotch Collegian) was killed in France in 1918.

Frank died on 25 July 1916 at Pozieres, France. He was 23 years of age.

Service record

Frank Lynall joined the 5th Battalion from its 11th Reinforcements in Egypt on 22 February 1916. His photograph suggests a small man, and although he was slight, he was in fact 5 feet 10 ½ inches in height. One soldier said he gave the impression of being ‘delicate’, but thought that this may have been due to sallow skin.

Frank arrived in France with his battalion in March 1916 and was reported ‘Killed in action’ in France at Pozieres on 25 July 1916. Two accounts in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file say he was shot dead by a sniper as he looked out of a newly captured trench soon after arrival (see below for an account from this file by a mate, Private Linton Vendy).

His service record contains a letter sent to his father in 1928 to accompany Frank’s wristwatch, found on his body at Pozieres when it was reburied at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 (see below).

Frank Lynall is buried in the Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, France.

Photographs and Documents:

Undated portrait of Frank Lynall

Testimony about Frank’s death from his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file.

Letter to Frank Lynall’s father concerning his son’s wristwatch, recovered at Pozieres.

Sources:

1. Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour and Red Cross Wounded and Missing file
2. Mishura Scotch Database
3. National Archives of Australia – B2455, LYNALL FRANK EDGAR PARKES
4. Scotch Collegian 1919
5. The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=181748