To commemorate 100 years since the Armistice, we would like to introduce you to 100 members of Caulfield RSL over the next 100 days
Francis William Fellowes Lukis
Frank Lukis was an 18-year-old farmer from Balingup in WA with 18 months militia experience in the local Light Horse regiment when he enlisted in September 1914.
He was posted to the 10 Light Horse Regiment and was soon promoted to Sergeant. He landed with his unit on Gallipoli on the 8 May 1915. He remained there until the evacuation, when they transferred to Egypt to continue the fight on a different front.
In August 1916 he received a commission as Lieutenant in charge training of a Machine Gun Squadron. In March 1917 he transferred into the Australian Flying Corps and quickly qualified as an Observer - by Christmas he was flying and in Jan 1918 he received his wings, followed by a Mention in Dispatches in May. Later he was promoted to Captain as Officer in Charge, No 1 Sqn of the Australian Flying Corps.
Returning to Australia in 1919, he took his Discharge, but enlisted as one of the original 21 foundation Officers of the RAAF on the 31 March 1921 at Laverton. He then made his career in the RAAF which included seeing Active Service in WW2.
He was appointed an O.B.E. in 1938 which was upgraded to a CBE in 1943. He retired in 1946.
He worked for Australian National Airways Pty Ltd as the Aerodrome Manager at Essendon Airport.
He died in 1966
Lest we forget