Name
Frank Primett
9 March 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
14026
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Ickleford memorials
Pre War
Frank Primett was born on 9 March 1886 in Ickleford, Herts, the son of Albert and Agnes Primett and baptised there on 25 April 1886.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 2 Taylors Cottages, Old Park Road, Hitchin where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer.
He married Alice Gertrude Emms in 1905 and on the 1911 Census they were living at 7 Union Path, Hitchin, Herts with their three children, Frank (5), Dora (4) and Florence (2). They later had two more children, Maud (1912) and Alice (1913). At that time, Frank was working as a bricklayer's labourer.
On pension records, his widow gave her address as 18 Spencer Road, Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
Frank was said to be a soldier with a Territorial Regiment when war broke out and was mobilised in August 1914 (according to National Roll of the Great War). He enlisted in Hitchin and served with the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 30 August 1915. He initially served as a Lance Corporal, later being promoted to Corporal. He fought in the Battle of Loos in September and was subjected to the first German use of Phosgene Gas in December.
He was killed in action on 15 September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (part of the Battle of the Somme). The Battalion suffered severe casualties on this day and Frank is one of 113 who died, many of whom have no known grave and, like Frank, are named on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £4 1a 3d, She also received a pension of £1 12s 6d a week. She later remarried to William Leach in 1919 and they were living at 17 Wallflower Street, Hammersmith on the 1939 Register.
Brother to Charles Primett who served with the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, died on 12 October 1916 and is also named on the Thiepval Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
