Name
Frank George Wilkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/03/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20915
Worcestershire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
VII. C. 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Frank George Wilkins was born in Tring in 1881 to George Wilkins, cotton weaver, and Sarah (nee Busby).
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Elizabeth (born 1866, a straw plaiter), Sarah (born 1871), Frederick (born 1873), Ernest (born 1876) and Frank were living at 12, King Street, Tring.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Sarah (a silk cleaner), Ernest (an errand boy) and Frank were still living at 12, King Street.
On 1901 Census the family of parents, Frank and Charley (born 1892) were at 12, King Street.
On the 1911 Census Frank ( a domestic gardener) was living with his parents still at 12, King Street, Tring.
Frank first signed up for the Army at Berkhamsted on the 1st Apr 1901, joining the Royal Regiment of Artillery as Private 15792. He was then 20 years of age, 5ft 3 ins in height, and gave his occupation at stableman. His first period of service with the Colours was short-lived, for on the 5th Jul 1901 he was “Discharged as not likely to become an efficient soldier”. Not to be deterred, he next appeared at the recruitment office of the Worcestershire Regiment in London where, on the 15th July 1901 he re-enlisted as Private 6428, in April 1904 extending his service “to complete 8 yrs with the Colours.” His second period of service took him overseas, his service record showing that he served in: Home 15 Jul 1901 to 14 Feb 1902, Bermuda 18 Feb 1902 to 05 Dec 1903, West Indies 6 Dec 1903 to 07 Nov 1905, Malta 08 Nov 1905 to 07 May 1906, Egypt 08 May 1906 to 08 Jun 1906, Malta 09 Jun 1906 to 20 Oct 1908, Home 21 Oct 1908 to 14 Jul 1909. Frank was probably placed on Army reserve for 4 Years and on the 14th Jul 1913 his second term in the Army ended and he was “Discharged on termination of his period of engagement.”
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frank. It can be assumed that Frank was recalled to the Colours on the mobilisation following the declaration of war in Aug 1914 as Private 20915 in the 1st Battalion, and went to France on 23 Mar 1915 to join 1st Battalion as part of 24 Brigade, 8th Division. The Division took part in 1915 in the Battles of Neuve Chapelle (10-15 Mar ), Aubers (9 May) and in the Battle of Albert (1-13 Jul 1916). In early 1917 the Germans retreated to the prepared positions of the Hindenburg Line and the Allied troops followed them. The 8th Division made an attack on 4 Mar 1917 as described in their War Diary : “BRAY March 1917.
1st: Batt marched from billets at BRAY to ASQUITH FLATS (Bgde Reserve). Weather fair.
2nd: Billeted in dugouts ASQUITH FLATS. Later Bn left ASQUITH FLATS evening of 2nd and took over trenches BOUCHAUESNES NORTH sector. Took over from 2nd DEVONS.
3rd: In trenches. Quiet, weather fair. One German walked into our line and was captured night 2nd/3rd. Casualties Killed 1 O.R. Wounded 6 O.R.
4th: Battalion in conjunction with 2nd Northants & 2/Royal Berks Regiment attacked the German positions E of BOUCHAUESNES. Attack was delivered at 5.30 am under a creeping barrage. Order of Coys. A left Coy. D centre Coy. C right Coy. B support Coy.
Attack was quite successful after heavy bombing fights in places. A great many Germans were killed, 2 machine guns were captured after their crews had been killed, together with about 100 prisoners taken by the Battalion. PALLAS TRENCH (German front line) & FRITZ TRENCH (Support line) were captured. From FRITZ TRENCH excellent observation was obtained over country near MOISLAINS & excellent observation for our artillery was obtained. Enemy shelling was very heavy & a barrage was kept up on captured lines & lines of communication all day. The observation obtained from FRITZ TRENCH enabled the Battn. to beat off counter attacks by means of Lewis Guns & rifle fire. Small German parties hurrying up from direction of MOISLAINS were dispersed by Lewis Gun fire. Very heavy casualties were sustained during the attack. The enemy’s heavy shelling was responsible for the large proportion.
The Battn. was relieved by 2/West Yorks night 4th/5th. A heavy barrage was kept up by the enemy during relief. Bn. proceeded to ASQUITH FLATS on relief.
Casualties. Officers: killed 5, wounded 4; missing 1. O.R.s: killed 44; wounded 158; missing 1.” Frank was reported killed in this action.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 and arrears of £22 8s 7d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
