Frank Page

Name

Frank Page

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

09/12/1917
19

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Rifleman
12833
King's Royal Rifle Corps
7th Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 115 to 119 and 162A and 163A.
Belgium

Headstone Inscription

No Report

UK & Other Memorials

Baldock Town Memorial St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock Not on the Clothall memorials

Pre War

Frank was born in 1898 (baptised 5 Feb 1899) in Clothall to Frederick Page, a labourer, and Annie (nee Covington). The family were living at Hickman’s Hill, Clothall. On the 1901 Census the family consisted of parents, Frank, his older brothers George, Alfred, and Frederick. Between 1907 and 1910 the family moved to Prospect Terrace, Baldock. The 1911 Census shows that Frank’s elder brothers were absent from the family home but there was the addition of Harry (born 1902), Ethel (born 1905), Willie (born 1907) and Mary (born 1910). Frank had been employed by F. Palmer, a Fruitier, in Letchworth.

Wartime Service

Frank attested on 20 Sep 1915, his age stated as 18 years 1 month (actually 16), and joined as Rifleman 12833 in Kings Royal Rifle Corps at Winchester. On 1 Oct 1915 he was posted to 5th (Reserve) Battalion for his further training. On 8 Mar 1916 he posted to the BEF and proceeded to France, Landing at Boulogne and more training at the Base Depot at Etaples. Frank was then posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion KRRC in the field on 26 May 1915. Frank returned to the Base Depot on 27 Jun 1916 and repatriated to Base Depot in the UK on 31 July 1916. His records were marked ‘under age’ on 11 Jul 1916, the reason for his return to UK. He was again posted to BEF on 29 Sep 1917 (now over 18 years and allowed overseas) and landed in Boulogne on 1 Oct 1917 joining the 7th (S) Battalion on 26 Oct 1917. He may been involved in the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele (26 Oct – 10 Nov 1917).  He served as a Brigade Runner, one of the most dangerous jobs on the Western Front. After leaving a pillbox with a group of runners to return to the front line a shell fell among them killing him instantly. He may been involved in the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele (26 Oct – 10 Nov 1917).  Frank’s death is recorded as 9 Dec 1917 , his remains were not recorded and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.

Additional Information

War Gratuity of £9 10s and arrears of £8 18s 8d was paid to His Father and Mother jointly. Leonard enlisted in May 1915 in Army Service Corps as Private 95485 at Remounts Centre, Romsey but was discharged on 22 May 1915 (unlikely to become soldier). George had enlisted in 1906 in 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt and had transferred to Regular service (nothing further has been found but he did survive the war). Alfred served as Serjeant 3/6527, 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, dying of wounds 18 Jun 1918.

Acknowledgments

Neil Cooper
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, Jean Handley