Name
Frank Gregory
24 January 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/09/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
253036
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
“B” Company. 10th
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
UPTON WOOD CEMETERY, HENDECOURT-LES-CAGNICOURT
F.15
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Aston War Memorial, St. Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Aston, Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Frank was born in 1890 in Aston, Hertfordshire and may have been baptised there on 9 March 1890. His parents were John Benjamin and Sarah Jane Gregory (née Sinfield), who married in Datchworth on 23 June 1883.
In 1891 the family were living at Aston End, Aston, nr Stevenage. Present were both parents: John (32) and Sarah (27), with John working as an assurance agent. Their children were:
William A (9), Eleanor (7), Alexander J (5), Annie T (3) and Frank (1).
By 1901 John had died, leaving his widow, Sarah, living in Aston End. Of the children previous listed only Alexander and Annie were present, along with a new child James Henry (2). Frank was staying with Sarah’s parents William (62) and Ann Sinfield (62), who were loving in Alleyns Road, Stevenage.
In 1901 Sarah appears to have qualified to practice as a midwife and was listed on the 1910 Midwives Roll with a date on enrolment of 17 December 1903.
By 1911 the family were still living at Aston End, Stevenage, Herts. Present was Sarah, her children: Frank at 21 and working as a general labourer, Rachel, 18 and a dressmaker and James. Also present was her widowed father William Sinfield (73),listed as a retired coachman. Despite being widowed the census recorded that Sarah had been married for 28 years with 7 children, all living.
On the 11th May 1912 Frank, aged 22, emigrated sailing from Liverpool aboard the White Star liner “Laurentic” on passage for Quebec. He settled in the farmland province of Saskatchewan.
In 1913 his mother married Farmer Gates and lived at The Moorhen's Inn, Hitchin Hill, Hitchin.
Frank enlisted on the 31 May 1916 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, his home address given as Gen. Del., Herbert, Saskatchewan. His date of birth was recorded as 24 January 1891, however this conflicts with census records so possibly should read 1890, albeit his age was given as 25 years and 4 months. He was worked as a farmer. Frank was described as 5’ 7 ½”of fair complexion with blue eyes and fair hair.
His papers give a Mrs H R Gates (this appears to be an error and should read S R) of the Mearhens Hotel (sic Moorehens?), Hitchin as his next of kin. He joined the 209th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force.
He appears to have been in a relationship with Miss Kate Adams as she was later listed as his unmarried widow (see HAW Additional Information below).
Wartime Service
Frank sailed from Halifax on the SS Caronia on 31 October 1916 and arrived in England 11 November 1916. He went to Shorecliff and was transferred to the 9th Reserve Battalion on 5 December 1916, then taken on to strength in 9th Battalion, but transferred back to the Reserve Battalion on 25 January 1917 and went to Bramshott. and was transferred to the 10th Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) on 21 April 1917, assigned to ‘B’ Company and went to France.
He was granted 14 days leave in the UK on 11 January 1918. On 28 May he went ‘To School’ where he acted as Batman to Lieut, McAndie. Then joined his unit in the Field on 6 June 1918 and was killed in action on 2 September.
On the 1st September 1918 the Battalion were holding Support Postions in Cherisy in preparation for an attack on German positions in Villers Les Cagnicourt. It had been decided to keep the men of the Battalion in their billets until the very last moment in order to allow them as much rest as possible.
The plan then called for the men of the 10th Battalion to pass through the 7th Battalion as they approached the German positions, in order to keep attacking troops as fresh as possible. This, however, proved difficult to achieve as the Battalion had no guides to assist them and each Company was reliant on its Officers to steer them in the darkness, using only compasses.
Despite this setback, the Battalion managed to reach the edge of Upton Wood by 08.00am, where it rested for a short period before advancing. ‘B’ Company, which was under the command of Major L J Carey MC, was on the right flank of the attack. By 08.45am the attack had come to a halt due to the ferocity of the German defence which combined the use of artillery, trench mortars and machine guns. The four Tanks that had been allocated to the attack had, by now, been knocked out and Battalion casualties were very high. At one point, every available man was taken from the HQ Company and thrown into the attack in order to bolster the rising casualties and it was not until 11.00pm that the attack came to a halt. 'B' Company, despite its Commanding Officer being wounded, played a significant part in the capture of the objectives, although their losses were high, including Private Frank Gregory.
Additional Information
His Canadian Service Record has a War Service Gratuity form, and this suggests he was in a relationship with Miss Kate Adams as she was later listed as his unmarried widow. However, she appears to have married, becoming Mrs Kate Pickett, and so no gratuity was paid. This aside his Will was made out to his mother on 21 March 1917.
His medals, scroll and memorial cross were sent to his mother Sarah J Gates at Three Moor Hens(sic) Hotel, Hitchin
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
