Francis Joseph Dominick
7232 Pte. Francis Joseph Dominick was born in South Melbourne in 1893 to Croation born Paolo Domancic and Lucy Helena Perkins.Francis was working forJanet Watson (Jessie McGregor) on her farm near Pyramid Rock on Phillip Island. The Dominick family was living on a property on Back Beach Road.
Francis enlisted with the 24/5th Battalion on the 27thOctober 1916. He embarked from Melbourne for Devonport England on H.M.A.T. Ballarat on 19th February 1917. His brother Percival enlisted with the 23/6th Battalion.
He served in France from 20th August 1917 joining the 21st Battalion soon after on 1st September and was killed in action on 4th October at Passchendaele Ridge, Ypres, Belgium.The battalion was participating in a 3-kilometer advance that captured Broodseinde Ridge, east of Ypres. He has no known grave.The Red Cross Files give details of his death:
“I knew Casualty, he was of ruddy complexion, 22 years of age, and stout. Casualty was in the advance at Passchendaele Ridge, Ypres, and was carrying Stokes Trench Mortars to the guns, when a shell landed near by, killing Casualty and several others. I do not know if he was buried.”
Informant:- Braithwaite, J.F. 539
Francis Joseph Dominick is commemorated on the Cowes Obelisk, the Phillip Island RSL Book of Honour, the Phillip Island RSL Roll of Honour and the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.