Pte 25705 Frank Ainsworth

• Age: 21
• From: Chester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frank was born in the March quarter of 1895 at 29 Talbot Street, Chester under the surname GANDY to Edward Gandy an iron turner by profession and his wife Martha Jane (nee Woollam) who were married on the 3rd June 1886 at St John, Chester. Edward was a 25 year old mechanic of St Anne St, father Joseph, whilst Martha was aged 23 of Foregate St, father John. 

Frank was the fifth child of 14 children, he had two elder sisters and two elder brothers. The family suffered the loss of children who died in their formative years. His younger sister Frances May Gandy born June 1896 quarter died March 1899 quarter. Another younger sister Dorothy Gandy born December quarter 1897 died September 1898 quarter. Whilst his younger brother Edward Arthur Gandy born September 1898 quarter was either stillborn or died soon after birth in the same September 1898 quarter.   

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 12 Chapel Lane, Chester. Frank Gandy aged 6 and a scholar is living with his parents and 6 siblings at 12 Chapel Lane Chester. Father Edward aged 40, an iron turner b.Chester, mother Martha J. aged 38 b.Waverton, other children born Chester, Charles H. 14, Margaret A. 12, John 9, Ada S. 8, Harry 1, and Thomas E. 3mths. 

GRO has 13 children recorded. 

His father's self completion of the 1911 Census at 40 Tarvin Road, Chester, describes himself as an engine turner, having three children who died pre 1911 as per above findings but he declares he only had 13 in total. (Yet,other family trees on Ancestry, have 11 children, but  these do not mention the three children who sadly died so it could be 14 children in total.) 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 40 Tarvin Road, Chester. FHis father, Edward, is aged 50, an engine turner, mother Martha J. aged 46. They state that they have been married for 24 years, and have had 13(sic) children, 10 of whom have survived. All surviving children are in the household; Maggie 23 a general servant, John 20 a locomotive cleaner, Ada Sophia 18 a general servant, Frank aged 16 a butchers apprentice, Harry 12 at school, Thomas Edward 10 at school, Lucy 9 at school, Martha Ann 6 at school, Harold 7 at school, and William Edward 3. Also staying is father’s brother William Gandy 57, an engine fitter. 

On 18 January 1915 Frank appears to have enlisted in Liverpool, though his Attestation papers appear not to have survived. It is not clear which surname he enlisted as Private 25705 in the 18th battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, either Ainsworth or Gandy. However, the Army appear to have been aware, since his Soldiers Effect Record at Preston shows him under Frank Ainsworth AKA Gandy.

On 30th April 1915 he and his 18th Battalion left Liverpool via Prescot Station and went to Belton Park Camp, Grantham for training, then in September 1915 to Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

On 07th November 1915 they travelled to Folkestone to catch the 2.30 p.m. sailing of SS.Invicta to France as part of the 21st Brigade stationed at Candas. The 18th saw their first action on 29th January 1916. Following this the Brig. Gen. of the Division sent the 18th Battalion a message.

" Well done 18th Liverpools Corps, Very Pleased."

The 18th lost a number of men fighting in February 1916

The 18th had one more short tour in the line without incident, before 30th June 1916.

Then, during the Battle of Albert (part of the opening day of the Battle of the Somme) whilst attacking Montauban, Frank was killed in action on 01st July 1916 aged 21. 

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

Frank's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost, his name is recorded as F AINSWORTH on the Thiepval Memorial at Pier & Face 1D 8B & BC.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His Pay of £3: 6s :9d and Effects were sent to his father Edward Gandy in February 1917 along with a War Gratuity of £5 in June 1919 and presumably his 3 medals of entitlement. His Pension was awarded to his mother Martha Jane Gandy, 110 Belmont Rd, Anfield then later at 18 Loraine St, Everton. 

His mother died, aged 71, in 1938 and his father died, aged 88, in 1949. 

Frank Ainsworth is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 16 Right

Grateful thanks are extended to Alan Chapman for the detailed biography

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