The following information was provided by Peter Nelson who has done a wonderful job of putting together an alphabetical list of members of the 31st Battalion who served in World War 1. Below is an extract of the service record of Francis Law including the citation for the award of his Distinguished Conduct Medal – DCM. In the citation the name of the place for the action in which he was awarded the DCM is shown as Petillon. Today the action is referred to as the Battle of Fromelles.
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RSM Francis Law DCM survived WW1, living until 11th Jun 1944. He was subsequently buried in Lutwyche Cemetery Brisbane and now, due to the efforts of the Remembrance Army, has a memorial plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery. See the story of the Remembrance Army. Search the “Australian Remembrance Army – Projects” on this website.
| Service Number | 246 |
| Rank | Sgt/RSM |
| Born | 1872, Wentworth, NSW |
| NOK | Friend, Albert Wolfenden, Union Hotel, Barcaldine, Queensland |
| Father | Henry Law |
| Mother | Elizabeth Arabella Barnett |
| Enlistment | 15th Jul 1915 Barcaldine, Queensland |
| Age | 44 |
| Status and Religion | Single, C. of E. |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Notes | A Coy, 31st Bn |
Embarked at Melbourne, on HMAT A62 “WANDILLA”, 9 Nov 1915
Arrived at Suez, Egypt on 6 th Dec 1915
Admitted 14 th Fld Amb (influenza), at Ferry Post, on 26 th Apr 1916
Rejoined Bn from hospital, at Ferry Post on 5 th May 1916
Embarked at Alexandria, Egypt to join B.E.F. per HMAT ‘Hororata’ on 16 th Jun 1916
Disembarked at Marseilles, France on 23 rd Jun 1916
Awarded DCM for actions: – “At PETILLON on the 19 th /20 th July 1916, this NCO acted with great gallantry and
coolness under a withering hail of artillery on the right flank. He with about 10 men, attacked an enemy Machine
Gun’s position and put it out of action and captured it; one of the party carried it back to the main position. This
NCO afterwards got most of his little band back to the main position and held on all night.”
Awarded Medal of St George 1 st Class for actions:- “At PETILLON on the 19 th /20 th July 1916, this NCO acted with great gallantry and coolness under a withering hail of artillery on the right flank. He with about 10 men, attacked an enemy Machine Gun’s position and put it out of action and captured it; one of the party carried it back to the main position. This NCO afterwards got most of his little band back to the main position and held on all night.”
To be RSM WO Class 1 (vice Brodie commissioned) on 20 th Aug 1916
WIA
(GSW face, fractured R ulna) (GSW = Gun Shot Wounds, fractured ulna = fractured forearm)to hospital on 25 th Oct 1916
Admitted 36 th CCS (GSW face) on 25 th Oct 1916
To Amb Train on 28 th Oct 1916
Admitted St John’s Ambulance, Etaples, on 28 th Oct 1916
Embarked per HS “Stad Antwerpen” from Calais, ex St John’s Ambulance to England on 25 th Nov 1916
Admitted King George Hospital, Stamford, on 25 th Nov 1916
Transferred to 2 nd Aux Hospital, Southall, from King George Hospital, on 22 nd Aug 1917
Discharged to furlough from 11 th Sep 1917 to 25 th Sep 1917 and to report to Depot, Weymouth on 25 th Sep 1917
Marched in to CD, Weymouth on 25 th Sep 1917
RTA per A35 “Berrima”, due compound fracture of R lower jaw for discharge on 31 st Oct 1917
Disembarked at Melbourne for overland journey to Brisbane
Discharged at Brisbane on 7 th Feb 1918
Died 11 th Jun 1944
Buried Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane
Plaque created by Association Honorary Member in France – Pierre Seillier
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Metal Plaque installed at Lutwyche Cemetery Brisbane by the Australian Remembrance Army
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