Name
Frank Shadrach Bertie Dowse
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/02/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/6585
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth, Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley Village Memorial
Pre War
Frank was born in Abbots Langley on the 22nd of June 1892 and baptised there on the 16th of September. His parents were Henry and Louisa (nee Freeman) and his father was a Gas Stoker.
In 1901 the family was living King Field Cottages, Abbots Langley with six children and a niece, Kate Fitzjohn age 7. Henry Dowse died in 1908. In 1911 his mother, a Charwoman, was living 8 Verulam Terrace, Uxbridge Road, Rickmansworth, with Frank age 18, a General Labourer, three other children, and a Lodger Albert Marshall.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
The 4th Battalion landed in France on the 25th of July 1916 becoming part of 190th Brigade 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
Frank was killed during operations along the river Ancre. On the 5th of February 1917 the Battalion moved into billets in Englebelmer and the next day relieved troops of 189th Brigade occupying old enemy 1st and 2nd line trenches. No casualties were reported on either day although four were killed between the 26th of January and 3rd of February.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
