Name
Frank Halsey
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
9586
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LABOURSE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
French row, behind row A. grave 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Great Gaddesden Village Memorial, St John the Baptist Church Roll of Honour, Great Gaddesden
Pre War
Frank Halsey was born in Great Gaddesden, Herts in 1891, the son of Henry and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Halsey (nee Mead), and one of seven children. (Frederick (B 1885), Arthur (B 1887), Nellie (B 1894), Edith (B 1897), Walter (B 1899) & Mary (B 1902).
He was baptised on 20 December 1891, in the Parish Church, Great Gaddesden, Herts.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living in Great Gaddesden, Herts where his father was working as a labourer, hay and straw binder. His uncle George Mead was also boarding with them.
In 1910 Frank enlisted in the Army and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service number 9586. The 1911 Census records Frank, aged 19, single and in the Army. A Private with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, stationed at Aldershot, Hampshire.
His parents and family remained living in Great Gaddesden in 1911.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Frank was serving with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He arrived in France with his Battalion on 6 October 1914 and were in action from 18 October on the Menin Road.
He fought in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle in March 1915 and the Battle of Festubert in May 1915. He was promoted to Corporal and then Lance Serjeant.
He died on 26 September 1915, of wounds received in action at the Battle of Loos. He is buried in the Labourse Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £18 9s 0d. His mother applied for a pension but it was refused.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk., dacorumheritage.org.uk., hemelatwar.org.
