Francis 'Frank' Simon Phelan (SN 2132) was born in Ballarat and was a Warder by trade when he enlisted in the 39th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 15 June 1916 at the age of 27. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916. In February 1917 he moved across to France to serve with the 39th Battalion. On May 29th he was slightly wounded but soon rejoined his unit. He was transferred for a short period of time to the Southern Command Bombing School at Lyndhurst U.K. as an instructor. He returned to France until he was hospitalised with influenza in early November 1918. On November 11th, the day the Armistice was signed, he was admitted to hospital in the U.K. He returned to Australia on the Derbyshire, reaching Melbourne on April 22nd 1919.
Tree No. 2476