Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD was born at Walcha, New South Wales on February 17th, 1915 to Frank and Sarah Archibald. One of 12 children; he would find himself fighting alongside his fellow Australians in many faraway places. However, law of the time said that he was not a citizen of Australia. To the broader population back home, he was a black man in a white man’s army. But to his mates on the front, he was neither black – nor white ….. he was ‘khaki’ like the rest of them. And Frank, like many other indigenous Australians would prove his worth on the battlefield and shed his life’s blood in service of his country.
The Archibald family today are well known in the Armidale area. They are direct descendants of Robert King, or King Bobby, a renowned Aboriginal leader at the time of colonisation.
IMAGE RIGHT: NX15456 Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion, AIF.
Frank Richard Archibald lived in the Armidale-Walcha area until 1935 when the family moved to Burnt Bridge Mission, near Kempsey. The family moved to the Mission after welfare authorities threatened to remove their children. The government authorities promised that, if the family moved to the Mission, their children would not be taken.
Private Frank’s military service began during May of 1940 when he enlisted into the AIF at Kempsey at the age of 25. He was assigned to the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion which was part of the 16th Brigade. Frank’s younger brother, Ronald Archibald, and his uncle, Richard Archibald (Senior) signed up in Kempsey around the same time.
After training at Greta, Frank sailed from Sydney in August 1940.
IMAGE LEFT: Colour Patch of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion, AIF (Australian Imperial Force). Bearing the colours of ‘purple over green’, note the grey border which denotes the second AIF. The original 2nd Infantry Battalion of the First World War had the same colour patch but minus the grey border.
He arrived in Palestine in September, and after more training, he served in the Battle of Bardia then followed action in the battles of Tobruk, Benghazi and on to Greece and Crete.
In the evacuation of Greece, Frank was in a group of twelve cut off by the German army, but they made their way to the coast where they got a fishing boat which took them to Crete. On the day that they were evacuated from Crete, the enemy sent over 60 bombers and heavily bombed the village in which they had taken refuge.
In March 1942, the 2/2nd Battalion was to leave Palestine and arrive in Ceylon (current day Sri Lanka) on the 27th of March, 1942. It was the desire of Winston Churchill that the Australians of the 16th & 17th Brigades, bolster the British defences in the zone which included Burma and India. However, Prime Minister Curtain and the Australian Government finally ordered these troops back home to defend Australia. This was a disappointment of the British Government, however the Japanese had landed at Gona on the northern coast of New Guinea and had already pushed south to the village of Kokoda. They sailed from Ceylon aboard the SS City of Canterbury in July, arriving home on the 4th of August, 1942.
A few weeks later Private Frank was welcomed home by his community at a public function.
IMAGE RIGHT: The remains of an Australian weapons pit dug in on the forward slope of Imita Ridge. From this position, there would be no retreat for the Australian forces. This image gives a good indication of the jungle conditions ….. a far cry from the country around Walcha.
After short leave, Frank left Brisbane for Port Moresby. Arriving on the 21st of September, 1942 they were to remain at Moresby on local defence duty for the next ten days. The major battles of Isurava and Brigade Hill had already been fought and the Australian troops had pulled back to Imita Ridge where they dug in. The fresh troops of the 25th Brigade (2/25th Battalion, 2/31st & 2/33rd) supported by the 3rd Infantry Battalion AMF (commonly referred to as ‘militia’) had been told that there would be no retreat from this position. They were to stand and fight ….. or die trying.
At this time, the Kokoda Track started from McDonald’s Corner just outside Port Moresby. It ran approximately 96 km across New Guinea, through the Owen Stanley Ranges to Kokoda. From there, the trail continued beyond to the coastal lowlands on the north coast.
The track crosses some of the most rugged and isolated country in the world. The altitude reaching 2,250 metres at Mount Bellamy. The climate combines hot humid days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and endemic tropical diseases such as malaria. It is passable only on foot.
IMAGE LEFT: The Kokoda Trail, between Alola and Isurava when heading north. This is the type of rugged and mountainous country which faced Frank and his comrades during the advance to Kokoda village.
As the Kokoda campaign developed – this had sever repercussions for army logistics, the size of the forces that could be deployed and the type of warfare that could be fought.
There were many days where our Australian infantry were moving forward and fighting the enemy but they did not really have enough food, water and ammunition as it was so difficult for the army to deliver these things along the narrow, muddy foot track.
We know from the many letters that Private Frank Archibald sent home to his mother Sarah; that just surviving on the track was a struggle, let alone doing battle with the well- equipped Japanese troops. There are accounts in Frank’s letters about how he used his bush skills- for example – to help his fellow soldiers collect water for drinking.
IMAGE RIGHT: A photograph of Australian troops pushing through the mosquito infested swamps of Sanananda. It was in this living hell that Private Frank Archibald fought and was killed, whilst attempting to save the life of another. Whilst this photo is actually of men of the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment, it is the same conditions faced by the 2/2nd Battalion.
On the 24th of November 1942 with the beaches of the northern coastline of New Guinea only 4 or 5 kilometres away, 1942 Frank was killed in action. He was 27 years old. Fighting in the fetid swampland around Sanananda, he was shot by the enemy while trying to save his non-Aboriginal friend, who survived the action.
Frank’s younger brother, Ronald, also fought on the Kokoda trail. Ronald became ill with malaria and was medically evacuated, we think this happened a few days after Frank was killed.
IMAGE LEFT: Bomana War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea where Frank Archibald lies buried.
Both Frank and his brother Ronald were regular correspondents, sending many letters home to their mother, Sarah. Sarah kept all the letters from her sons, and this collection is now held with pride by Aunty Grace Archibald. The letters give sobering insights into the experiences of the two young men as they fought in foreign lands.
A letter written to Frank’s mother Sarah shortly after his death by a senior sergeant Ron Diamond states that “I can honestly say Frank was one of the most popular boys in the battalion and his cheery disposition and ready smile, even in the darkest hours, made him an inspiration to us all”. This showed the high regards held for her son by his fellow-soldiers.
Today Private Frank Richard Archibald lies beside his 600 fellow fallen Anzac’s at the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby, New Guinea.
He is buried with full military honours.
However his spirit will not be truly brought to rest until he has received a proper, Aboriginal, culturally appropriate ceremony.
IMAGE LEFT: An image of the war service medals awarded to Private Frank Richard ARCHIBALD, 2/2nd Infantry Battalion, AIF. From left to right:- 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 Australia Service Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal.
IMAGE RIGHT: Aunty Grace Gordon (Archibald) and Uncle Richard Archibald with Frank’s war service medals and Company photograph.
STORY AND SOME PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES WRITTEN AND GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED BY THE KOKODA ABORIGINAL SERVICEMAN’s CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
IMAGE LEFT: Front page of the Illawarra Mercury, showing the first media article that detailed Franks army service.
PLEASE NOTE: The Kokoda Aboriginal Serviceman’s Campaign Committee is seeking to raise funds, in order for members of his family to attend his graveside and carry out the appropriate Aboriginal cultural ceremonies that are needed to enable Frank’s spirit to be brought respectfully to rest. It also hopes to raise community awareness of all Australians as to sacrifice by indiginous servicemen and women during defence of Australia. For more information, please contact Brendan Fitzgerald on telephone 0431 014 818 or email brendon@illawarraams.com.au
IMAGE RIGHT: Stoker Raymond MAJOR, Service Number B2993. Ray was the last known survivor of the sinking of the RAN depot ship Kuttabul, by Japanese midget submarines at 12.30am on the 01st June, 1942.
IMAGE LEFT: The wreck of the KUTTABUL where she was sunk at Garden Island on the 1st of June, 1942. It was from this vessel that Ray rescued one of his shipmates.
IMAGE RIGHT: Stoker Ray MAJOR in his retirement. With his passing, goes the last known survivor of the Kuttabul crew who were on board when the vessel was destroyed by a Japanese torpedo.
