Frank Boddington
FRANK BODDINGTON
1904—1942 An ANZAC story: an Australian farm worker makes his home in Stanway, then joins up to fight in WW2 for New Zealand. Told by Tori Short, with assistance from her grandfather, Peter Short. Before the War: Frank Boddington came to work for my great grandfather, Bruce Short at “Taumata” (Stanway) in 1933. My Grandfather recalls Frank as short in stature and came from Launceston, Tasmania in Australia. He was always well mannered and a very hard worker as teamster ploughman, looking after and working with the Clydesdale draught horses and other farm work. He was well respected by all in the district and would often have offers of meals with the neighbours on Sunday’s. Frank lived in the whare beside the homestead, having meals as part of the family and sharing toilet facilities (bucket style). Frank’s father - Henry, came over to New Zealand and stayed with the family. My grandfather and his sister don’t recall Frank having any brothers or sisters. |
A typical working day for Frank:
A normal working day for Frank would be, up by 6am, bring the horses in from the paddock and into their own stalls, fed chaff in feed boxes while being groomed and harness put on. Over to the house for breakfast, usually porridge plus some chops, eggs, bacon, occasionally sausages, toast and tea. My great grandmother made his lunch, usually cold meat (mutton) pickles sandwiches and a bottle of cold tea. It was back to the stables, finish harnessing then walk horse out to the paddock to begin the days ploughing, discing etc.
Lunch break. The horses were given a nose bag of chaff, if a dam was handy they got a cold drink.
At day's end it was: unhitch the plough, walk back through the stables to be fed and groomed. After dinner, return to the stables and put the horses in the paddock for the night.
Frank's military life:
In 1940 Frank left Taumata (Stanway) and signed up with the army to go and fight for his country. He did his military training at Linton Army Camp before moving out. Frank spend his final leave with the Short’s and there was a farewell held in the Stanway Hall. The Short’s along with many others in the district sent food parcels and patriotic parcels to Frank and other men from the district that were serving. My Grandfather can remember his mother and sisters making camouflage nets in the kitchen. There were cup hooks under the windows where the nets started to be made.
In the war Frank was a driver of a fuel truck with the Western Desert Campaign, 2nd NZ Expeditionary
Force—2nd NZEF. The Short family received only a few postcards from Frank whilst he was in Egypt. Along with the photo of Frank in uniform.
Sadly on 27th June 1942 at age 38 Frank was killed in Egypt at The Battle of Alamein. His truck was shelled and Frank was knocked out before the truck exploded. An officer that was with Frank managed to get out and he sent a postcard to the Short family to inform them of Frank’s death.
Frank has a memorial at the Alamein War cemetery.
A normal working day for Frank would be, up by 6am, bring the horses in from the paddock and into their own stalls, fed chaff in feed boxes while being groomed and harness put on. Over to the house for breakfast, usually porridge plus some chops, eggs, bacon, occasionally sausages, toast and tea. My great grandmother made his lunch, usually cold meat (mutton) pickles sandwiches and a bottle of cold tea. It was back to the stables, finish harnessing then walk horse out to the paddock to begin the days ploughing, discing etc.
Lunch break. The horses were given a nose bag of chaff, if a dam was handy they got a cold drink.
At day's end it was: unhitch the plough, walk back through the stables to be fed and groomed. After dinner, return to the stables and put the horses in the paddock for the night.
Frank's military life:
In 1940 Frank left Taumata (Stanway) and signed up with the army to go and fight for his country. He did his military training at Linton Army Camp before moving out. Frank spend his final leave with the Short’s and there was a farewell held in the Stanway Hall. The Short’s along with many others in the district sent food parcels and patriotic parcels to Frank and other men from the district that were serving. My Grandfather can remember his mother and sisters making camouflage nets in the kitchen. There were cup hooks under the windows where the nets started to be made.
In the war Frank was a driver of a fuel truck with the Western Desert Campaign, 2nd NZ Expeditionary
Force—2nd NZEF. The Short family received only a few postcards from Frank whilst he was in Egypt. Along with the photo of Frank in uniform.
Sadly on 27th June 1942 at age 38 Frank was killed in Egypt at The Battle of Alamein. His truck was shelled and Frank was knocked out before the truck exploded. An officer that was with Frank managed to get out and he sent a postcard to the Short family to inform them of Frank’s death.
Frank has a memorial at the Alamein War cemetery.
If you have stories or memorabilia you'd like to share with our community, or perhaps ask questions about, we encourage you to make a submission to the Halcombe Community ANZAC Committee.
Please contact Wayne Short for more information: [email protected]
Please contact Wayne Short for more information: [email protected]