Frank's Story.
Frank was born in Hyde, Cheshire in 1899. He lived with his father Harry, a joiner, and his mother Maria at 75 Commercial Street, Newton. He had 2 brothers, Harold & Thomas, and a sister Elizabeth. By 1911 his father had died, and they were living at 7 Newton Street, Hyde.
Frank enlisted in Hyde, originally into the South Wales Borderers as private 49826. He was later transferred to the 13th Royal Welsh Fusiliers as part of a block transfer. He was killed in action on the 26th of August 1918. He is buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Dept De La Somme, France. VII E11.
The battalion war diary for the period reads.
25 August 1918.
Battalion moved forward towards Contalmaison, halted a X15b at 09.30am moved on to X16b just west of Contalmaison.
9pm battalion marched to assembly point North East of Mametz Wood, arriving there unopposed about 12 midnight. 2 Other ranks gassed.
26 August 1918.
4am after a preliminary bombardment, battalion launched an attack on Bazentin le Grand Wood and village, with the 14th and 16th battalions in support plus the 2nd battalion guarding the right flank and mopping up the wood, after being held up for considerable time by MG fire the wood and village was eventually carried and the line advanced to east of the village at S 15b.
The war diary reports 4 other ranks killed ,27 wounded, 5 missing, 2 gassed.
