INMAN John Francis, MM

Other Events:

• Military: Believed to have served in the British Army during WWI. Details very difficult to find!
• Occupation: Farmer at Drung VIC, pre WWII.
• _UID: EA845635E65641D68F1B49F97571A0DE9C58
• Baptism: 2 Apr 1898, St. John the Evangelist, Great Marsden LAN
• Emigration: 25 Jan 1922, London ENG
• Military: Between 3 Nov 1939 and 24 Apr 1947, Australia, Middle East and Greece and Japan; Also served as No. VX6615, Corporal in 6th Divisional Signals, 2nd. AIF.
• Military Award: 12 Apr 1941, Veve GR; Military Medal MM

Notes:

During his captivity as a Prisoner of War he was held in the following POW Camps:
Stalag XVIII-A, Stalag 383, Stalag XVIII-D, Stalag XVIII-B, Oflag III-C and Corinthia.

Birth:
Birth registered in the March 1/4, 1898 in the Burnley District in Lancashire.

Emigration:
Aboard P & O ship 'Ballarat'.
Into Place: Melbourne VIC

Military:
Appears to have lowered his age to Join the 2nd. AIF.

Captured by the enemy in Greece on 28 Apr 1941 and spent the remainder of WWII as a prisoner of war. Appears to have continued to serve in the Occupation Forces in Japan following WWII. Details of Frank INMAN's service during WWII is also difficult to find. One interesting fact however is that he took part in the victory march in London following his release from POW camp before he was repatriated to Australia. (Ref. The Horsham Times, Tuesday 14 October 1941, page 2, article.

Made strenuous efforts to get his 'field promotion' to Acting Sergeant recognised poat WWII.

Military Award:
Newspaper report on the decoration of Corporal Frank INMAN:
Cpl. F. Inman was N.C.O. in /c line detachment at Veve. On April 12, during a heavy attack by the German forces, the King's Royal Rifles were forced to retreat. This they did, without, however, notifying the Aust. Inf. Bde., under whose command they then were. When they failed to ans- wer their exchange Cpl. Inman, with Sig. Mason as driver, went out to investigate the trouble, and in the pass their vehicle came under heavy M.G. first. Cpl. Inman sent Dvr. Mason back to report and continued on foot. Penetrating the German forward elements, he reported the K.R.R. exchange was abandoned, and made his way to the lines. On his return he was found to be suffering severely from exposure, and was admitted to hospital.

John married HILL Charity Alma May 1939, VIC. Charity (daughter of HILL George Henry and SYMONS Anna Maria) was born Abt 1887, Noradjuha VIC; died 4 Mar 1960, 1030 Mount Alexander Road, Essendon VIC; was buried 7 Mar 1960, Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner VIC. [Group Sheet]