Lance Corporal Francis Armstrong
- Rank
- Lance Corporal
- Service number
- WX7717
- Unit
- 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died as Prisoner of War
- Place of death
- Sandakan, Borneo
- Date of death
- 30 July 1942
- Age
- 29
- Plaque number
- MW41
- Co-located plaques
- MW41A - PTE Edward Burton
- Dedicated by
- Family on 14 February 2009
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Lance Corporal Francis Armstrong of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion was born in August 1912 at Boulder City. He was the fourth and youngest son of the eleven children born to Thomas and Catherine Armstrong.
Frank attended Boulder school and family folklore has it that he and his brothers were involved in many escapades.
Their father, Thomas served overseas in World War 1 and on his return took up land south of Margaret River and the four boys, who were big strong lads, were put to work clearing the land. They were all superb bushmen and horsemen and they moved about the state following work.
Frank enlisted at Claremont in August 1940 while living at East Witchcliffe. He was posted to 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion and went to Singapore with 8 Division. During the battle for Singapore, the battalion was engaged in heavy fighting for 20 hours before being overrun by the enemy. Frank was captured, became a prisoner of war and was sent to Sandakan as part of B Force.
Lance Corporal Francis Armstrong, service number WX7717, died as a prisoner of war at Sandakan on 30 July 1942. He was 29.