Name
Frank Atkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
33138
Army Service Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Frank Atkins was one of the most recent men identified as an Abbots Langley man serving in the Great War. His name came up in a random search of the Ancestry Database, searching the words “Abbots Langley” in the Military Records section. He had previously been identified in the family record for the family of Newman and Elizabeth Newman, but was not listed in any of the Parish Roll of Honour records at the time of the Great War.
Frank was born in the summer of 1882 at Abbots Langley. He was one of seven children born to Newman and Elizabeth Atkins. His brother Leonard, and cousins Henry, Arthur, William and Ernest Atkins also served in the War. In the 1891 Census the family was recorded living at Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley. Newman worked as a Hay Binder. But by 1901 Frank had moved from the family home, and had enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow on 27th March 1900. When he enlisted he gave his occupation as a Carman.
Frank’s Service Record noted that on 22nd December 1900, whilst at Dover, he absented himself without leave, and on 31st December he was reported for using insubordinate language to his superior officer. Both incidents were considered together and Frank received a harsh sentence of 42 days imprisonment with hard labour.
On 9th March 1901 Frank was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, and was stationed at Gibraltar, serving there until 19th May. On 20th May 1901 Frank set sail for Egypt, and served there with the 56th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) until 15th March 1905.
He returned to England on 16th March 1905 and on 16th September 1906 was transferred to the Army Service Corps (ASC), where he served as a Driver. On 21st September he joined the 24th Battery of the RFA, and at the time indicated that his home address was 8 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley. Frank continued to serve with the ASC until he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 27th March 1912, after twelve years of Army Service.
Three days after War broke out Frank was mobilised on 7th August at Athlone in Ireland, returning to service as a Driver. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 9th September 1914, and on 21st February 1915 was posted to 38th Brigade as a Driver. On 30th January 1916 Frank was in trouble again. Whilst “in the Field” he was found guilty of using insubordinate language to an NCO, and received a sentence of seven days Field Punishment Number 2.
On 5th April 1916 Frank was posted to the 6th Divisional Artillery Column, and for an unknown reason was posted back to England on 25th December 1917, where he served as a Driver through to 3rd February 1919 when he was sent for Dispersal. On 5th February 1919 Frank was de-mobilised and discharged being considered physically unfit to serve as a Driver.
Frank survived the War, however his brother Leonard was killed in action on 26th September 1916 serving on the Somme. His cousin Ernest Atkins was also killed in action on 1st December 1917 at Passchendaele, however his cousins William, Arthur, and Henry all survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 3rd & 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
