Name
Frank Reed
18 February 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/02/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
52019
Royal Garrison Artillery
35th Heavy Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HABARCQ COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
VIII. D. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Frank was born on 18 February 1893 in Gwernaffield in Flintshire and baptised there on 21 May 1893. His parents were Samuel and Annie Reed.
In 1901 the family were living at Rwyddfyd and Waen, Flintshire, of the parents only Annie (38) was present, her husband recorded as ? engineer - later an engine fitter so presumably working away from home, which appears to be the case in 1891 and 1911. Their children were: Henry (possibly known as Harry, 13), Alfred (11), Frank (8), Eleanor (6) and James (2).
By 1911 the family were living in Gwern Affield Mold. Annie was present and had been married for 25 years with 5 children, all living. Of the children listed above Eleanor was absent and Frank (18) and working as a hooker (colliery worker).
Frank married Gertrude Ethel Beech (b 1/2/1895) on 29 August 1915 in St Saviours Church in the Parish of St Luke, Sydney Street, Chelsea.
Frank enlisted on 24 November 1914, he was 21 years 9 months old, he had been a collier and lived at 13 Warrington Road, Prescot, Lancs. He was described as 5’ 8” and 154lbs.
Officially Frank was recorded as born in Gwernassfield (sic), Flintshire and he was living in Liverpool when he enlisted in Warrington.
Wartime Service
A service record has been found, but some of the entries are not clear. What can be read with some certainty is as follows: he joined No. 4 Depot RGA in Great Yarmouth, a day after his attestation, as Gunner 52019, F Reed. He was posted to 22 MH? on 6 January 1915 and then to another Depot on 31 August 1915 and awarded 9 days detention on 8 September 1915. He was then posted to OC No 2 Depot on 15 September 1915 at Ft Brockhurst, from where he went overseas. He disembarked in France on 29 September 1915 and was posted to 2 Bde AC 9 October.
On 16 November 1915 he was marked as N.Y.D (Not Yet Determined), but the following day he went to No 7 Casualty Station with rheumatic fever and from there to No 18 Stationary Hospital in Rouen and was not declared fit until 10 December. A note says that his next of kin were informed on 6 December – perhaps that reflected his recovery?
He was posted to 35 Heavy Battery 27 January 1916 but was given leave to the UK from 7 May to 15 May 1916.
He was wounded in action on 2 February 1917 and taken to No. 37 Field Ambulance and died there on the 5th. The wounds from a shell which damaged his abdomen, hip, thigh and arm.
At the time of his death bombardments were taking place to assist the infantry in making an assortment of trench raids in the Arras sector and most likely he was killed in counter battery fire. The Battery was equipped with a mixture of 8" and 9.2" howitzers. The ground conditions were hard frozen at the time.
He was buried in Plot 8. Row D, Grave 9 in Habarcq Communal Cemetery in France. Habarcq is approximately 9 miles west of Arras.
Additional Information
After his death £2 12s 3d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Gertrude Ethel on 1 May 1917 and at that time her address was Spinney View, 5! Bearton Road, Hitchin(*1). Later, a war gratuity of £9 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 29 October 1919.
Frank’s effects were sent to his wife on 1 May 1917, they consisted of 4 photos, post card, bundle of letters, keyless watch in case, leather wallet, New Testament, pair of scissors, purse, 2 knives, cigarette case, match box cover, 2 pipes (1 broken), tobacco box and a tobacco pouch.
His pension cards record Gertrude Ethel as his widow and his next of kin, living at 47 Bearton Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 13s 9d a week from 20 August 1917. One child was named: Violet Frances (b 3/7/1917), however, there are several notes. One says that there is no pension issuable for the child, an instruction dated 19 December 1917 to transfer payment of pension to Mr Brookes, Boys Grammar School House, Hitchin for administration in trust for widow, both of whom were informed, also on 19 December 1917. Then another note dated 3 June 1918 that the pension was to be paid direct to Frank’s widow and again both were informed of this on 3 June 1918.
*1 it was also this address that was given for the dispatch of his death plaque and scroll (8/4/1919), a later address was 3 Pulters Way, St John Road, Bethel Lane, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
