Pte 24772 Frank Leah

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 26th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Frank Leah was born on the 13^th July, 1897 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 22^nd August, 1897. He was the son of Thomas Nightingale Leah and  his wife Mary Louise (nee Stewart).

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 56 Bremner Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Frank is 3 years of age and is living with his parents and four siblings. His father is described as a 31 year old butcher's shopman, born in Liverpool in 1870, whilst his mother is a 32 year old born in Liverpool in 1869. His siblings are declared as Charles A. aged 9, Mary L. aged 7, Thomas N. aged 5 and Arthur aged 1. Also present is his grandfather, Charles T. Leah a 69 year old, widower. There is also a boarder resident at the property 

Frank as educated at Clint Road School, Edge Hill. He entered the school on 19th August 1901 and left the Infant school on 13th August 1906, moving to the junior school. He left in September 1911. 

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 56 Bremner Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Both parents are present his father's occupation is now shown as a bricklayer/labourer, they have been married for 21 years and had eight children of whom one had sadly died. Those listed in the household are; Charles aged 19, born 1892 occupation assistant electrical engineer at Liverpool University, Louisa (probably Mary L.) aged 17, born 1894 is a book binder, Thomas aged 15, born 1896 is an apprentice plumber, Frank aged 13,  Arthur aged 11, born 1900, Maggie aged 10, born 1901 and George aged 8, born 1903 are still at school.

Frank enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion (No 2 Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24772.

From the 23^rd September 1914 the 18th Battalion was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 26th July 1917, aged 20. 

His girlfriend Alice posted a tribute to Frank in the Liverpool Echo on 14th August 1917: 

LEAH - In loving memory of Private Frank Leah K.L.R., killed in action, July 26th, 1917, of 56 Bremner Street, Edge Hill.

Far and oft my thoughts do wander

To a grave so far away,

Where they laid my sweetheart-

Too far away your grave to see,

But not too far to think of thee.

Father, in Thy heavenly keeping,

I leave my soldier sweetheart sleeping

- Alice

His death was then reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 17th August 1917:

"Private F.Leah, K.L.R., aged 20, killed in action on July 26th, resided at 56, Bremner-street, Edgehill. His chaplain writes:- "Had your son been fortunate enough to return I should most certainly have recommended him for the Military Medal." 

Frank's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Liverpool Echo 14th August 1917 from his girlfriend Alice

LEAH - In loving memory of Private Frank Leah K.L.R., killed in action, July 26th, 1917, of 56 Bremner Street, Edge Hill.

Far and oft my thoughts do wander

To a grave so far away,

Where they laid my sweetheart-

Too far away your grave to see,

But not too far to think of thee.

Father, in Thy heavenly keeping,

I leave my soldier sweetheart sleeping

- Alice

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 17th August 1917:

"Private F.Leah,K.L.R., aged 20, killed in action on July 26th, resided at 56, Bremner-street, Edgehill. His chaplain writes:- "Had your son been fortunate enough to return I should most certainly have recommended him for the Military Medal." 

Soldiers Effects to his father Thomas Nightingale and pension to his mother Mary Louise.

Frank is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 24 Right

St Cyprian’s C. of E. Church, Edge Hill, Liverpool 

Beacon Hall, Edge Hill, Liverpool 

Clint Road Council School, Edge Hill, Liverpool

We currently have no further information on Frank Leah, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.