Name
Frank Burch (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266610
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VILLERS HILL BRITISH CEMETERY, VILLERS-GUISLAIN
VI. B. 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
FOR EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring Not on the Aldbury memorials
Pre War
Frank Burch was born in Tring in 1895 to John Burch and Emily (nee Drake).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, (John was a shepherd) Frederick J (born 1893), Frank, and Christian E (born 1898) were living at 16, the Grove , Tring
On the 1911 Census still living at the Grove, Tring, Frank was a domestic gardener, Frederick was a farm labourer, and Christian was at school.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Frank, but his service number of 4968 in the Hertfordshire Regiment was issued shortly after 24 May 1915. His later number of 266610 issued in the renumbering of the Territorial Force was also a Hertfordshire allocation. It is probable that he transferred to 1st Bedfordshires following this. The Bedfordshires in May 1918 had been transferred to 54 Brigade ,18 (Eastern) Division, participating in the Battle of Epehy (18 Sep 1918) and were to take part in the Battle of the Canal Du Nord (27 Sep – 1 Oct 1918). Frank was killed in action on 27 Sep 1918 in this action.
This from The Parish Magazine, 1919: We have just received a letter from a Captain concerning the death of Frank Burch M.M. ‘I should have written before, only I was rather badly wounded by the same shell which killed your son. He was orderly, and a very good boy indeed. He was also a very gallant soldier and had twice been recommended for the Military Medal, without having the luck to get it. You will be glad to know that he did not suffer any pain what so ever. He and I were laughing and talking together when a big shell came and dropped at my feet. It was a big shock and when the smoke cleared away and I came to my senses I saw that your son had been struck on the head and killed instantly. It was a miracle that I escaped with my life, for, although I was hit by over 30 pieces of shell, there were none of them in a vital spot. Your son was well liked by the officers and men of the company. I shall always remember him as a fine young Englishman and gallant comrade.’
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
