Military History

Frank is listed as being killed in action on 4th September 1918. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 1st to 5th of September are transcribed below.

Bailleul – Sept 1^st to 5^th 1918: The Battalion embussed with the remainder of the 88th Infantry Brigade at La Kreule on the morning of the 1st September at 6am and proceeded to a point on the Meteren – Bailleul Road, 500 yards east of Bailluel. The Battalion marched via to the old aerodrome south of the Bailleul - Ravelsberg road,. The Bn rested here the night and the following day (the 2^nd) moved forward to the old trenches N and S of the Armentieres - Bailleul road in square S.29.b&d. One Coy occupied the trench they had dug on April 10^th, when the enemy attacked in this sector.

The Bn moved forward the following morning, the 3^rd, to the old line which had been secured by the Worcestershire Regiment during the previous night. In view of the impending attack on the enemy positions on Hill 63 it was considered necessary to previously secure the line of the road E of Beuschemeberbohen from T.11.D.3 to T.21.D.1.

This operation was commenced at 4:30 a.m. and was done in 2 bounds. "W" Company secured the line of the road T.16.d.3.7 to T.23.c.5.7 with very slight opposition but upon pushing forward of this line they met with heavy enfilade and M.G. fire, causing 27 casualties. An attempt by Z Coy to push further forward was then held up.

It was decided to wait till dusk and then secure the objective, which was to be the assembly now for the attack on Hill 61. This securing of the assembly line was only accomplished at night with difficulty, owing to the alertness of the enemy on M.G. fire. The assembly for the attack on the morning of the 4th was accomplished under heavy M.G. fire, the enemy seemingly having knowledge of a projected operation, If his activity may be taken as an indication.

The attack on Hill 63 was under a barrage with the Leinster Regt on the left and the Hampshire Regiment on the right, with two companies in the attacking line, one company moving up and one company as Battalion reserve. The barrage, a very fine smoke effect, opened at 6 a.m. and the leading boys moved forward. Considerable opposition was met with soon after the start from enemy M.G. posts, but these were dealt with in spirited fashion. There was some difficulty in keeping the men back till the barrage had lifted, as they were too eager to advance. As the companies reached the crest of the hill they came under heavy M.G. fire. Enemy posts with and numbers of the enemy killed & M G’s captured.

The two forward companies cleared up Gas Trench and pushed on to trench from Crest House through U13 and this line was held continuously. During the advance the mopping up Coy killed and rounded up many of the enemy and finally rested in Gas Trench, whilst the reserve company remained on the reverse slope of the hill in square 18.d.

Throughout the day, the enemy made several demonstrations against our new positions by working up scouts and M.G’s under covered approaches. A demonstration of this character on the right flank was frustrated by the reserve company, 1 of the enemy killed and 5 taken prisoner. The enemy shelled and trench-mortared the positions arrested from them with considerable consistency during the ensuing 24 hours.

The Battalion held the positions gained until the night of the 5th Sept, when it was relieved by the Royal Welch Fusiliers, 38th Division. The Battalion made 50 enemy prisoners and captured 3 trench mortars, 11 heavy machine guns, 1 light machine gun, and large quantities of enemy S.A.A. and material.

Sept 1^st: Casualties, Other Ranks, 1 to hospital (sick)

Sept 2^nd: Casualties, Other Ranks, 2 to hospital (sick), Lieut J. W. Tedder, to hospital (sick). 12 Reinforcements

Sept 3rd: Casualties, Other Ranks, 5 Killed, 12 Wounded, 1 to Hospital (sick)

Lieut. J. W. Neal, 2nd Lieut. of Wounds received in action 2nd Lieut. J. C. Bushman, Wounded

Sept 4^th: Casualties, Other Ranks, 22 Killed, 121 Wounded, 6 Wounded (at duty), 8 Missing, 1 to Hospital, 1 from Hospital, 1 Died of Wounds received in action

Lieut. de Gurse, Killed Lieut. R. B. Ingles, Lieut. J. Sims, Lieut. R. Scott, Wounded Lieut. W. J. Dollingworth, Wounded (at duty)

Sept 5^th: Casualties, Other Ranks, 1 Wounded, 2 Died of Wounds received in action