Name
Frank Charles Coleman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
238077
West Riding Regiment
13th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Frank Coleman attested to the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment on 14th December 1914 at Hertford, and was immediately posted to the Territorial section of the Regiment. The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour from January 1915 listed Frank serving with the Hertfordshire Territorials. His Service Record noted that he was appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 28th May 1915, still probably serving as a “Saturday Night” soldier with the Territorials.
On 31st August 1916 he disembarked in France and was transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers on 1st September. On 14th October his Casualty Form noted that he was being treated for multiple abscesses, and a week later on 21st October had been admitted to hospital. His Record noted “Admitted PUO”, which either indicated “Placed Under Observation”, to see what developed as a diagnosis had proved inconclusive, or “Pyrexia (fever) of Unknown Origin”. On 26th October 1916 Frank was transferred to 35 General Hospital at Rouen, and on 4th November was transferred back to a hospital in England, suffering from dysentery. From 18th December 1916 to 27th March 1917, still suffering from dysentery he was treated at the Manor War Hospital (County of London), at Epsom before being moved to Addington Park War Hospital on 27th March, where he stayed until 4th April 1917.
Presumably Frank recovered but did not immediately return to France. The next event noted in his Service Record was his appointment as a Paid Lance Corporal on 23rd June 1917, and on 31st October 1917 he was promoted to Corporal, still serving with the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers. Between 1st and 12th February 1918 Frank was admitted to York Military Hospital suffering from tonsillitis, and was not sent back to France until 15th June 1918.
On arriving back in France he reverted to the rank of Private and was transferred to 13th West Riding Regiment on 24th June. On 2nd October 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, but on the same day was sent back to the UK, and on 21st October was admitted to the Edinburgh War Hospital being diagnosed with colitis. He remained at the War Hospital until 2nd December 1918, and did not return to France. He was sent for Dispersal on 8th March 1919. The Absent Voter Record of Autumn 1918 listed Frank serving with the 13th West Riding Regiment, with the rank of Lance Corporal, and gave his address at Abbots Road, Abbots Langley.
Frank was born at Abbots Langley in the winter of 1895 to Charles and Caroline Coleman . The couple also had two daughters, both older than Frank. In 1901 the family lived at the High Street, Abbots Langley, and Charles worked as a Stockman on a Farm. By the time of the 1911 Census the family lived at “Homefield”, Abbots Road (now 100 Abbots Road). Charles worked as a Gardener and Frank was employed as a Telegraph Messenger. When he attested in December 1914 he gave his occupation as Farmer
Frank Coleman survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 266651, 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
