Next of Kin plaque : Lance Corporal F R Symons, 17th Battalion, AIF

Bronze Next of Kin plaque showing an image of Britannia and a lion together with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR'. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. The name of the dead soldier 'FRANK ROBERT SYMONS' is recorded in raised letters within a raised rectangle.

Frank Robert Symons was born at Alexandria, Sydney, in 1895. He trained as a wood turner after completing his education, and was also a member of the militia. As a 19 year old, he enlisted in the AIF in July 1915, becoming Private 2287 in 17th Infantry Battalion. Although he sailed with the 4th reinforcements in September 1915, Symons did not join his unit until January 1916, in Egypt after the evacuation of Gallipoli. He travelled with the battalion to France later the same year, and saw action on the Somme.

On 15 April 1917, the Germans launched a counter-attack at Lagnicourt against the Australian forces advancing towards the Hindenburg Line. 17th Battalion, holding the line in front of the town of Noreuil, was one of the units heavily involved in this action, and suffered 181 casualties during the day. Frank Symons, now a lance corporal, was among those killed. His body was not recovered, and he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France.