Secretary of the Mt Evelyn RSL, Anthony McAleer, shares the story of Frank Leslie Nicholls, who was Killed in Action at Gallipoli.

Frank Leslie Nicholls was born 1891 in Brunswick. His father, Captain William Nicholls, had served with the Victoria Colonial Forces and the militia. Frank grew up in Malvern and on the family’s property Wandin.  On 25 August 1914 he enlisted in the AIF, training at Broadmeadows and was allotted to the 5th Battalion. He left Australia on the first convoy on the Orvieto. At the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, he was in the second wave that hit the beaches and advanced up the cliffs. He survived the first day but, sadly, on the following day he was killed in action. He was later buried at the Lone Pine Cemetery. In The Argus newspaper his parents placed a notice that said ‘He gave his life for his country and for his country’s honor’.

Frank is listed on the Wandin War Memorial and on the centenary of his death in action the Mt Evelyn RSL held a small ceremony at the Wandin War Memorial in his memory.