Australia: PM Anthony Albanese extends condolences over death of Frank McGovern

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended deep sorrow and condolences over Frank McGovern’s death, the HMAS Perth’s last survivor.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took to his social media recently to share his heartfelt sorrow and grief over the death of the great Frank McGovern at the Randwick Rehabilitation Hospital, aged 103.

Frank McGovern was an Able Seaman sunk in Perth by a Japanese convoy in 1942; he then spent two years on the Thai/Burma railway as a POW. A US submarine dropped him again in the Philippine Sea and bombed him while he was working in Kawasaki as a forced labourer.

The remarkable element of Frank McGovern’s wartime experience lies not only in the extraordinary level of endurance he exhibited in his six and a half years of service, three and a half of which were spent in Japanese POW camps but the number of times he invaded the death nearly,

On expressing his deep condolences and paying solidarity tribute to his life, The Prime Minister shared about the greatness of the Frank McGoveern shared that Frank survived forced labour and the firebombing of Tokyo in 1942 and twice became a prisoner of World War II. The Prime Minister even shared a picture of Frank McGovern on his official media from Anzac Day this year and shared some kind words over his departure.
Prime Minister Anthony shared that he also shared lost a brother, who served with him on HMAS Perth. he considered himself lucky to get a chance to meet him just before Anzac Day,2023, in Australia.

Further, The Prime Minister also wrote about some of the traits of Frank McGovern that will be forever recognised; Prime Minister Anthony shared that Frank was a man of profound modesty, gentle humour, and robust optimism.

Also, the Prime Minister, on remarking on the Death of Frank McGovern, said, “he is gone today, but like all who serve, he is never forgotten.
Lest we forget.”