Frank Joseph Wishart was born on 1 September 1897 in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the only son of James Wishart, a machinist from Boston, and his wife, Rosanna Lawler. As soon as he was old enough, Frank followed in his father’s footsteps and also became a machinist. On 7 December 1915, he joined the Massachusetts National Guard which, during the First World War, was called into Federal service. As part of the 1st Massachusetts Ambulance Company (which would later become the 1st Ambulance Company in the 26th Division), Frank served as a private soldier until 8 August 1917. Two weeks earlier he married a candy packer from Somerville named Della Mary Fullerton and after being discharged from duty, went to live with his wife in her hometown.

By 1918 Frank had found work as an assistant shipper for the Vacuum Oil Company in Cambridge, and with the United States forces now based overseas on the Western Front, it is unsurprising that he soon found himself required to re-register for military service on 12 September 1918. At the time he was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair. His registration card also records that he had flat feet, which may have precluded him from active service had he been called up. The cessation of hostilities two-months later probably saved him from any such dilemma, and by 1920 Frank had moved with his wife to Malden City in Middlesex County, where, after a brief spell repairing cars, he returned to being a machinist.

Five children were born to the couple between 1918 and 1930, the youngest being born in the town of Lynn. During the 1940s the family moved to Saugus where Frank died aged 58 on 14 December 1955. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Saugus.

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