Name
Frank Froy
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/04/1917
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
263028
Monmouthshire Regiment
Attached 2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FEUCHY CHAPEL BRITISH CEMETERY, WANCOURT
I. G. 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
For ever with the Lord
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Frank (junior) was born in 1897 in Hitchin and christened on 3 November 1897. His parents were Frank and Harriet Froy (née Grear) – they had married in 1897.
In 1901 the family were living at 1 Crispin Terrace, Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Frank (24) and Harriet (22), with Frank (senior) working as a painter (house). Their children were: Frank (3) and Ada E (1).
By 1911 the family were living at 1 Crispin Terrace, Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, and the children listed above, with Frank recorded as a school and errand boy. They had ben joined by new siblings: Gladys (9), Grace (7), George (4), Jack (2) and Elsie at just 4 months.
Frank (junior) He enlisted on 17 November 1915 and at that time he was 18 years and one month, living at 38 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, Herts. and working as a leather dresser. His father, also Frank, was given as his next of kin. This address was used for all further records for him and his parents.
He worked in the Dye Shop at Russell's Tanyard in Bancroft, Hitchin before joining the army.
Wartime Service
His service record reveals that originally enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery as Private 5118 and mobilised on the 12 April 1916, this was later amended to 138778 (or similar) and then 201946. So his movement between regiment is complicated. The Soldiers Died in the Great War database give his service number of 201946 as applying to the RFA.
He was training and on ‘Home’ service between 12 April 1916 and 7 March 1917. During that period, on 23 June 1916, he was transferred to the 4th Royal West Kent, and issued with glasses 30 August 1916. He arrived in France on 8 March 1917 transferred to the “Reglr RWK” (Royal West Kent) on what appears to be 15 March 1917 – although 5 appears to have been written over another number, then the 2nd South Wales Borderers on 24 March 1917 and posted to 1/1 Monmouthshire Regiment 24 March 1917 and then to the 2nd South Welsh Borderers on 26 March 1917.
His service numbers 40528 and 263028 appear to both relate to his 2nd South Wales Borderers, however perhaps the former was his Monmouthshire number. The Monmouth Regiment Infantry Territorial Force in the 84th Brigade of the 46th Division of V Corps in the 5th Army.
The South Wales Borderers which, on the 9th April 1917, was in reserve at Monchiet west of Arras and was the only South Wales Borderers unit near the active front. On the 12th April, the 2nd Battalion relieved troops holding Monchy de Preux, a village on high ground between the Scarpe and the Cojeul rivers facing the village of Guemappe. It was a difficult relief as the Germans were attacking and the outgoing units had become dispersed.
Frank was killed on 13 April 1917 and killed in action during heavy fighting at Arras.
A Serjeant Searl of the same unit wrote home to say that he had helped to bury him, but this was not his final resting place. When he wrote, he was in hospital, in Nottingham.
His burial return form dated 3 September 1919 records that his body was found at map ref: H34. C. 9. 1 identified by a cross giving his service number as 40528 2nd SWB. His body was exhumed for re-burial in a concentration cemetery which was Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery at Wancourt, France - Plot I, Row G, Grave 24.
However his headstone particulars were given as 25510 Royal West Kent Regiment, which were crossed out and replaced with 263028 Rifleman.
His CWGC gravestone states that he was in the Monmouthshire Regiment attached to the South Wales Borderers. A private inscription on the stone reads "For ever with the Lord". This was ordered by his mother, Harriet Froy.
Additional Information
After his death 3s 7d was authorised to go to his mother, Harriet, on 23 July 1917, then £2 11s 5d on 10 September 1917. A war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 24 October 1918. Although a charge appears of 7s 2d dated 1 September 1917. She also appears to have been awarded a pension of 5s 5d (a week) for life.
His personal property and medals etc. were requested to be sent to his mother on 10 September 1917.
In Hitchin Cemetery he is mentioned on the grave of his father Frank Froy who died aged 68 on the 11th October 1944. The inscription reads "Also of Frank son of the above killed in action 13th April 1917 aged 19 years". There is a later inscription for his mother.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
