People Australia

Frank Alan Wisdom, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

RANK ALAN WISDOM was born at Glen Innes, N.S.W., on the 21st July, 1890, the son of Mr. John Baldock Wisdom and Mrs. Ada Isabel Wisdom (nee Rogers).

He was educated at Glen Innes and entered the service of the Bank at Emmaville on the 19th September, 1907. In April, 1908, he was transferred to Inverell, where in January, 1913, he was appointed ledger-keeper.

Frank Alan Wisdom enlisted as a private in the A.I.F. on 19th May, 1915, and was promoted to corporal and sergeant the following month. In December, 1915, he was promoted to second-lieutenant in the 30th Battalion; in November, 1916, to lieutenant, and in July, 1917, to captain. He was appointed staff captain in the 14th Australian Infantry Brigade in August, and for his bravery in the Third Battle of Ypres, in the following month, he was awarded the Military Cross.

Appointed Brigade Major of the 8th Australian Infantry Brigade in February, 1918, he took part in the Battle of Amiens on 8th August, 1918, and he behaved with such gallantry that he was awarded the D.S.O. For gallantry in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line in September and October, 1918, he was twice mentioned in despatches. On active service, which embraced all fronts, he gained the rank of brigade major and won the decorations of D.S.O. and M.C. He was once gassed.

For his distinguished service in France, Major Wisdom received an appointment on the General Staff there, and afterwards on the Staff of General Sir John Monash in London. There, in February, 1919, he was appointed staff officer in the Educational Department, under the control of Dr. Long, Bishop of Bathurst, the Chaplain-General; he quickly rose to be Deputy Director of Education with temporary rank of Lieut.-Colonel. He held that appointment about twelve months.

So highly was he thought of and so successful was the large department he controlled, that it attracted the notice of the British Cabinet, and he was specially requested to initiate the system in the home forces with the Minister for Labour, a task which took him some three months, and for which he received the thanks of the Minister; he also has letters of congratulation from Sir John Monash.