Private
Henry Francis Friske
Henry Francis Friske was born on the 2nd of December 1916 in Gympie Queensland, to Mr Henry Otto and Mrs Eliza Frances Friske (nee Fittell) as the youngest of their 6 children. His older siblings (from eldest to youngest) were Evelyn, George, Herbert, Frank and Grace.
Service Number: | Q28956 |
Place of Enlistment: | Brisbane |
Age of Enlistment: | 34 Years 3 Months |
Date Of Enlistment: | 2nd April 1941 |
Embarked: | Brisbane, 2nd of December 1941 |
Transport Ship: | HMAT ‘K’ for 8 MD New Guinea |
Medals: | 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal, Australian Service Medal |
Place of Death: | Killed In Action, Battle of Sanananda Road, New Guinea 7th of December 1942 |
Resting Place: | Buried Soputa Sanananda Trail, Buna Province New Guinea Re-interred Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery A5. C. 21 Papua New Guinea |
Unit: | 49th Australian Infantry Battalion |
Additional Information:
Henry Francis Friske was born on the 2nd of December 1916 in Gympie Queensland, to Mr Henery Otto and Mrs Eliza Frances Friske (nee Fittell) as the youngest of their 6 children. His older siblings (from eldest to youngest) were Evelyn, George, Herbert, Frank and Grace. The family is from the rural suburb of Lagoon Pocket which lies just south of Gympie and Henry seems to have grown up there. Prior to his enlistment in the 49th Battalion, Australian Milita Force, Henry was living in Coomera where he worked as a farm labourer.
The 49th was a militia battalion that was sent to Papua as there were no AIF troops available at the time. Initially used to garrison Port Moresby, the 49th Battalion saw extensive action against the Japanese in Papua, notably at Sanananda.
The Battle of Sananada Road on the 7th of December 1942 was a costly and unsuccessful attack against well entrenched Japanese positions. In five hours, the battalion lost 14 officers and 215 men killed or wounded. This amounted to nearly 60 percent of the attacking force.
Notes on names: On his birth certificate, Henry Friske’s last name is recorded as Frieke, which I believe to be in error. Additionally, on his enlistment form Henry’s middle name is recorded as Frances rather than Francis which is on his birth certificate. I consider the possibility that his middle name is Frances to be plausible as this is also his mother’s middle name.
2017 National Anzac Day Address G-G Rt.Hon.Sir Peter Cosgrove
Bomana War Cemetery, Papua New Guine
Video Govenor-General Youtube
Medals & Awards
.png)
The 1939–45 Star is a campaign medal awarded to Australians who had served between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 for a minimum of 6 months, or two months for air crew personnel.
The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific Theatre of Operations between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.
The War Medal 1939-45 was awarded for 28 days full time service in the armed forces over the duration of the Second Word War.
Civilians who worked with the armed services as well as those who served in military hospitals also received this medal.
The Australian Service Medal 1939-45 was instituted in 1949 to recognise the service of members of the Australian Armed Forces and the Australian Mercantile Marine during World War II.
49th Australian Infantry Battalion unit patch
.png)
.png)
