UNCLE FRANK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 25, 20 November 1945, Page 5

UNCLE FRANK

A DISTRICT TRIBUTE

LOCAL KIWIS FRIEND

-If ever by accident or design, the boys from Whakatane who left these shores to serve overseas were gifted, with the presence of fairy godmother (or father as the. case may be) it was certainly fulfilled to the in the person of Colonel Frank Prideaux. Veteran of two wars } and widely res.pected and esteemed friend of countless Kiwis throughout the Uncle Frank, a.s he became popularly known always preserved a w;ii*m spot in his heart for the boys from Whakatane and his unfailing friendship to and services in a hundred different ways has prompted the writing of this article.

Without exception returned men coming home to Whakatane liave referred in glowing terms to Colonel Prideaux's hospitality and neverfailing goodwill and friendship. Over and over again by dint of his position and influence he has been enabled to do many a favour for the local boys. His welcome was assured as it was looked for whenever a local stepped into his office, and

from the lips of we have learnt that Uncle Frank was always able, to produce the necessary at a moment's just when it was most urgenly needed.

Well before the El Alamein adUncle Frank had installed himself iirrnly in the affections; of boys from the Eastern Bay. His close contact with many of their relatives had made it possible for him to do countless personal favours by way of letter and we have had it on record that many of these kindly intimations received at this; end were deeply appreciated by the families concerned.

One returned man recalls that after a particularly gruelling three months in the desert ? there was no friendlier face in the base camp than that of Uncle Frank, whose immediate warmth and accommodating attitude did much to disperse the memories of dust and flies which had been his lot for so long. This was a common place experience of dozens of the men who were known to Uncle Frank by their christian name or nick names dating back to school-day escapades. Uncle Frank never stood upon the ceremony due his rank. He was one of the boys, from the outset and .though their by rank and age ? he never once let this distinction stand in the way of the happy reunions which wei-e celebrated in his quarters.

Writing back f lie has instanced his efforts to keep in constant touch with the Whakataneans in the forces, and whenever he moved from one place to he always made a point of looking them up ? giving them a cheery word and asking them _if lie could assist by way of his office or in writing home for them.

In the latter stages when the armie£> of Monty swung across Libya j into Tunis and Uncle Frank always speeding up behind the advancing troops with his paymaster's corpSj lost to a great extent those happy contacts which he had been able to maintain lor so long. A well-earned respite also created a gap in his army life, but going back again last lie was able to once again install himself as the friend and well-wisher of the boys irom Whakatane.

He is back home again ? and once more has taken up the happier if more monotonous occupation ol civilian life. Whakatane knows him as* 4 a citizen of repute j and distantly as a soldier of no mean merit. The 'Boys' however < know him as a character for friendship and goodwill in the hours of loneliness and of suffering, who will never be forgotten. There will be many a young veteran in this town and whose most vivid memories of the brighter interludes 'over there' will be his associations with genial and obliging Uncle. Frank.