Andra Norman De Fraga

DE FRAGA, Andra Norman- – – – SPC 1899-1902

DoB:– – 12 October 1887, Mount Prospect, VIC

Father:- – Christopher Francis De Fraga (died 19 May 1902, Creswick)

Mother:– – Mary Jane, nee Marshall (died 1905)

Andra Norman (known as Norman at SPC) was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Prahran, along with his three brothers -“ Cecil (1897-1902), Percival (SPC 1897-1902, did not enlist) and Cliff (SPC 1902-1903).

Service No:– 1908

Rank:– – Adjutant

Unit:– – Divisional Supply Column

Norman De Fraga enlisted on 17 September 1914, a 27 year old married man with a baby son, Geoffrey Norman born in 1913. He was five feet four inches tall, with a medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His occupation was a motor salesman at Malvern Motors, 177 High Street Malvern. His wife, Ethel Beatrice, was his next of kin, and they lived at 134 Farrell Street, Port Melbourne.

On 22 December 1914 he embarked on the Ceramic at Melbourne, after already being assigned the rank of Lance Corporal. He was quickly promoted: Corporal in 1915, Acting Sergeant in 1916, Sergeant in April 1916, Staff Sergeant in June 1916, Warrant Officer 1st Class in August 1916, 2nd Lieutenant in Oct 1916, Lieutenant on 3 January 1917, and finally Adjutant on 30 January 1917.

He saw service in France. In May 1918 was admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) with a gluteal abscess.

He returned to Australia on 8 October 1918, embarking at Taranto, Italy, and went via Egypt to Australia. He was discharged from duty on 8 February 1919.

After the war Norman lived with his wife Ethel until the early 1930s. Ethel was admitted (at some point) to Mont Park Hospital for mental hygiene, Heidelberg, where she died on 1 July 1950 at the age of 62. She was cremated at Fawkner Crematorium, Victoria.

Norman remarried in 1947, to Kathleen Monica Monaghan (who died in 1974, aged 59). Norman and Kathleen lived in Toorak until their deaths. Norman died on 24 Jan 1978, aged 90 years. He was cremated at Springvale Crematorium, Victoria.

Norman and Ethel’s son Geoffrey died on 14 May 1978, aged 65 years. He had married Marion Goodwin in 1947, but their one son, Michael had died. Like his father, Geoffrey was cremated at Springvale.