Pte 51720 Frank Meredew

• Age: 20
• From: Chorlton, Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Frank was born on the 05^th December 1896 in Chorlton, Manchester.  He was one of eight surviving children born to William Meredew and his wife Helena Jane (nee Tew), who had married at St Mark's Church, Hulme in Chorlton in 1883. His father was born in Shoreditch, London and his mother (known as Lena) in Hulme, Manchester.  He was baptised on the 10^th February 1897 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool, his parents address Baker Street. Frank had sisters Lily, Annie, Alice, and brothers William, Harry,  Arthur, and  Leonard. The older siblings were born in Chorlton, and the family must have moved to Liverpool in 1897-8, where the younger siblings were born.   

In 1901 the family is living at 26 Fielding Street, Kensington, Liverpool. His father, William, is aged 36, a woodcarver born in London, his mother Lena, is aged 36 born in Manchester, four children were born in Manchester - Harry 16, Lily 7, Arthur 6, Frank 5, and two were born in Liverpool - Annie 3 and Alice 1.   

In 1911 they are at the same address. His father, William, is aged 45 is a wood carver in a cabinet works, mother Lena is aged 45. They advise that they have been married for 23 years, and have had 11 children, 8 of whom have survived. His older brother Arthur 16 is a stock broker, older sister Lily 17 is a tailoress. Frank is 14, and employed as a page boy in a dentist’s. Annie 12 is at school, Alice 11 also at school, and Leonard 2.

Frank enlisted as Rifleman 5118 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone - Boulogne on 29th July 1916 reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 30th July and proceeded to the 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 06th August 1916 and was posted to the 20th Battalion K.L.R. on 05th September 1916 as Private 51720. 

By May 1917 the Battalion was in the Ypres salient and at the end of July was involved in the fighting to capture Pilkem Ridge, the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele.

Frank was killed in action on 31^st July 1917, aged 20.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.

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.

His father William also served, as Sgt 205309 Rifle Brigade. He served in India with his battalion from February 1916 until June 1917. Frank was killed a month after he returned. 

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 24^th August 1917:

  “July 31, killed in action, aged 20 years, Private F. Meredew, K.L.R. (Our Frank).  Life’s dream is o’er. Farewell!. (Deeply mourned.) – Mother, Father, Sisters, Brothers Arthur and Harry (in France), 26 Fielding Street.”

The family placed their thanks for support in the Liverpool Daily Post 25^th August 1917:

MEREDEW - Sergeant and Mrs Meredew and family beg to tender their thanks to all friends for their kind messages of sympathy during their sad bereavement - 26 Fielding Street.

Frank was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 11^th September 1917:

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Meredew, 51720, F.; 

Soldiers Effects to father William, Pension to sister Lilly.

His father William, later  Sgt. 46377 Royal Defence Corps, died on 26th January 1919, at Graylingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, aged 53. He rests in Chichester Cemetery where his CWGC headstone is inscribed:

“HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP”.

His brothers Harry(71683) and Arthur(267499) both served in France with the 7th K.L.R.;  Arthur was discharged in August 1919, with a disability after a GSW to his left leg. 

Sadly, both Frank’s and his father’s medals were returned, although his mother remains on the Electoral Roll at 26 Fielding Street, it is likely that she did not want them. It is not known whether she eventually received them.

His mother died, aged 77, in the December quarter of 1942.

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Frank's service with the 6th Rifles.  

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