From Antarctica to War

On 6 August 1914, just two days after war was declared on Germany, Frank captained Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance to Antarctica as part of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. After surviving harrowing times on the ice, he returned to serve in the Royal Navy Reserve from 1917.

A skilled seaman, Frank commanded two anti-submarine decoy ships. He was twice decorated for his success against these German U-boats. He later joined Shackleton and several of his Antarctic comrades in supporting the North Russia Expeditionary Force in its anti-Bolshevik activities. Until he passed away from lung cancer in February 1943, Frank was actively involved in naval support during World War Two.