Stove, Francis John (Frank) (1893–1984)

Frank’s occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a store assistant, who was single.

Francis John (Frank) Stove (1893–1984) attestation paper upon enlistment in September 1916

Date of Birth – 1893, Araluen, New South Wales.
Parents – William John Stove and Eliza Morris, Mt Darragh, Cathcart, New South Wales.
Enlisted – 28 August 1916. Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board SS Napier on 17 November 1916.¹
Regimental Number – 2655.²
Aged at embarkation – 23
Military service – 34th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement. Rank – Driver³. Frank served on the Western Front and was awarded the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
Returned to Australia on 9 December 1918 and was discharged on 28 March 1919.⁴
Francis John Stove died on 11 June 1984.⁵

Francis John Stove is the youngest son of William John Stove (1858-1921) and Eliza Morris (1861-1949). William and Eliza had five children following their marriage in 1882 – William, James, Arthur, Francis (Frank) and Ethel. William John Stove was the youngest son of James Smith Stove (1809-1876) [⁶ and Janet Nicholson (1819 -1875) who had eight children following their marriage in Scotland in 1841. Eliza Morris was the eldest daughter of William Morris (1817-1898) of the Commercial Hotel, Mudmelong and Martha Ann Corby (1832-1900). Eliza’s older sister Sophia Morris (1856-1905) married her husband’s older brother James (1849-1882) in 1877.

Frank’s older brother James served in WWI, service number 2139, enlisting on 11 April 1916 serving in the 35th Battalion and returning to Australia on 11 May 1919.⁷

The Southern Record⁸ reported in April 1914 ‘Mr. Frank Stove, youngest son of Mr. W. J. (William John) Stove, who is an assistant in Mr. Alley’s store at Araluen, is on a visit to his parents during the Easter holidays. He sees a good deal of change here since he first visited Mt. Darragh seven years ago.’

In October 1916, the Northern Champion⁹ published ‘Private Frank Stove, who left Mr. P. U. [Percy Underwood] Alley’s Cash Stores [Taree], to go to the front was tendered a public farewell at Araluen (where his people reside), last Monday. He was also the recipient of a substantial money gift. In a letter to Mrs. Scharkie he said he would probably pay a flying visit to Taree before embarking.’ The Daily Telegraph¹⁰ also reported ‘ARALUEN, Tuesday. — Private Frank Stove, a native of Araluen, who enlisted at Taree, visited this centre [Araluen] on final leave, and was publicly bidden farewell. He received a monetary present.’

The Northern Champion¹¹ reported in November 1916 ‘Privates Frank Stove, J. Wollard, and other Manning boys have sailed for England. In a letter to Mrs. Scharkie, Frank Stove said all the boys were in good health and spirits. They were treated well in Liverpool Camp, and were looking forward to a pleasant journey across the seas. He sent his kind regards to all friends in Taree.’

In July 1917, the Wingham Chronicle¹² reported ‘Word was received in Taree on Thursday that Gunner Val McCarthy, and Private Frank Stove had been wounded [by gunshot]. … Pte. Frank Stove was a popular employee at Mr. P. U. [Percy Underwood] Alley’s store, Taree, before joining the 34th Battalion’.

Robert Stove attestation paper upon enlistment in WWII, in October 1941

Frank married Dorothea Goodsell (1903-1976)¹³ in 1921 in Sydney and they had four children. The 1930 electoral roll details Frank, a tramway employee, and Dorothea residing at Ryde.

Frank’s son Robert William Stove served in WWII. Service Number – NX133255: Date of birth – 2 May 1922: Place of birth – Kensington NSW: Place of enlistment – West Ryde NSW: Next of Kin initially his mother then changing to his wife Myrtle Stove.¹⁴ Robert enlisted on 14 October 1941, serving in the 2nd/9th Infantry Battalion and was discharged on 6 June 1946.¹⁵

A death notice was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 13 June 1984, advising of the death of Francis John Stove on 11 June 1984, late of Ryde and aged 91 years.¹⁶

References

1
University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=290306. Accessed 26 April 2024.
2
National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Stove, Francis John, Item ID – 8092660. Accessed 26 April 2024.
3
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2006787. Accessed 26 April 2024.
4
Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/51841 Accessed 26 April 2024.
5
NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Death – 13001/1984 Parents William John and Eliza. Accessed 26 April 2024.
6
Findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182554014/james-smith-stove Accessed 12 September 2024
7
National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA:B2455, Stove, James, Item ID – 8092661. Accessed 26 April 2024.
8
Southern Record and Advertiser (Candelo, NSW : 1910-1938), Saturday 25 April 1914, p 3.
9
Northern Champion (Taree, NSW : 1913-1954), Saturday 28 October 1916, p 4.
10
Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883-1930), Wednesday 25 October 1916, p 15.
11
Northern Champion (Taree, NSW : 1913-1954), Saturday 18 November 1916, p 4.
12
Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer (NSW : 1898-1954), Friday 13 July 1917, p 4.
13
Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219044099/ellen-elizabeth-stove. Accessed 2 May 2024.
14
National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B883, Stove, Robert William, Item ID – 5626244. Accessed 2 May 2024.
15
Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/1309914 Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WWII), Private, NX133255, 2nd/9th Infantry Battalion. Accessed 2 May 2024.
16
Ryerson Index, https://ryersonindex.org/ Accessed 2 May 2024.