Frank Alberry

Who was Frank Alberry?

Second lieutenant Frank Alberry had a varied military career. Before the First World War, he served in the Welsh Regiment of the British Army, but deserted. He joined up again in the early days of the First World War, and went on to serve heroically with the 8th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force. After service at Gallipoli, he joined the British Expeditionary Force in France. He won a Distinguished Conduct Medal at the Battle of Pozières, but lost a lower leg in the process. Alberry took the extraordinary step of personally petitioning King George V for permission to transfer to aviation, and subsequently became a flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.

Alberry returned to service during the Second World War as a recruiter.