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Frank William FAY MC and Bar

FAY

Date of birth19 January 1892
PlaceFaybrook, East Kew, Victoria, Australia
ParentsFranklin Ethelbert and Angelina Margaret (nee Haig) Fay
Date of death1 October 1969
PlaceHobart, Tasmania, Australia
Age77
Scotch Year(s)1901 to 1910

Service record and post-war life

Frank Fay was a Prefect at Scotch in 1909 and 1910. He represented the school in its First Athletics team every year from 1906 to 1910 and was in the First Rowing Crew in 1909 and 1910. He was also an officer in the school Cadets (see photograph below). When he enlisted in Melbourne in February 1916 he was a 24-year-old medical practitioner. After briefly being attached as medical officer to the 8th Field Artillery Brigade, in May 1916 he was allotted as a reinforcement to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He sailed overseas as a Captain in the AAMC on 20 May 1916 and arrived in July.

In September 1916 Frank embarked for France, where on 25 September he was taken on strength of the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Six months later, on 26 March 1917, he transferred to the 14th Field Ambulance. On 28 April 1917 he was transferred to the 29th Infantry Battalion as the Regimental Medical Officer. He rejoined the 4th Field Ambulance on 11 May and after a period of two weeks’ leave in England, was detached to the 53rd Battalion on 24 June 1917. Twelve days later he was back again with his field ambulance, but was detached yet again to an infantry battalion – this time the 55th – on 6 September 1917. Six days later he was back with his field ambulance. He was wounded in action on 1 October, but remained on duty. Two weeks later he was wounded again, this time by gas. He was evacuated to England. He was discharged in November and by 21 December 1917 was back with his unit in France.

Frank was Mentioned in Despatches on 7 November 1917 for ‘distinguished and gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field during the period 26/2/17 to 20/9/17’ at Polygon Wood, Belgium. Frank had initially been recommended for a Military Cross. In June 1918 he was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty ‘while in charge of the transport and evacuation of wounded from the divisional main dressing station’ on 20 May 1918, east of Amiens. That station, his citation said, was twice hit by shells but he cleared all the wounded, ‘exposing himself in bringing up ambulance cars and showing great energy and devotion to duty.’ His recommendation shows that he was twice knocked down by explosions during this heavy shelling (see below).

In November 1918 Frank received a Bar to his Military Cross: that is, a second Military Cross. This was for work when in charge of a motor ambulance at Villers-Bretonneux in August 1918. Before moving it forward he reconnoitred the roads ahead in his car and then on a motorbike (see recommendation below). This saved lives as he found that two roads had been rendered impassable by enemy artillery fire. He undertook this dangerous work continually for four days, thus contributing to the smooth evacuation of the wounded of two divisions. (See citation below). As the recommendation for his first Military Cross says, Frank Fay undoubtedly saved many lives.

Between the wars Frank was a medical practicioner in Hawthorn and in Glenferrie Road in 1920 and a surgeon in Tasmania. In the Second World War (1939-42) Frank was made a Major and given responsibility for medical manpower in that state. He died in Hobart in 1969. He had married Dorothy Lois Elizabeth Robinson (d. 1966) in England in 1917. Frank’s son, grandsons and great grandsons attended Scotch.

Photographs and Documents:

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Frank Fay is in the front row of this photograph of 1908 Cadet Corps officers and NCOs.

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Frank Fay’s application for a commission refers to his time as a Lieutenant in the Scotch College Cadets

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Recommendation for a Military Cross for Frank Fay in October 1917. As the right margin shows, it was downgraded to a Mention in Despatches.

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Succesful recommendation for Frank Fay’s Military Cross

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Recommendation for a Bar to Frank Fay’s Military Cross

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Letter to Frank’s wife informing her of the Bar to his MC.

Sources:

  1. Australian War Memorial – Honours and Awards
  2. Mishura Scotch Database
  3. National Archives of Australia – B2455, FAY F W
  4. Scotch Collegian 1918
  5. The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=95338

Page last updated: 11 November 2015