Pte 48276 Frank Plummer

• Age: 20
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Frank Plummer was born on the 9th March 1897 at 5 New Street, Bootle and was the son of Joseph Plummer and his wife Jane (nee Audley) who were married in 1882 at All Saint's Church, Stoneycroft.  of 270 Litherland Rd, Bootle, Liverpool. He was baptised at St.Matthew's C.of E. Church, Bootle on the 21st April.

The 1901 Census shows that the family are at 5 New Street, Bootle cum Linacre. Frank's father, Joseph, is aged 40, a dock labourer born in Staines, Middlesex, his mother Jane is aged 38 born in Liverpool. They have eight children in the household, all of whom were born in Liverpool; Charles 18 a tanners labourer, Thomas J. 17 a tanners labourer, William 14 a shop boy, Arthur 11, Frederick 9, Herbert 7, Frank 5 and Walter 1.

By 1911 the Census shows the family have moved and are now at 101 Lunt Road, Bootle, His father, Joseph, is aged 50, a fireman at tan yard, mother Jane is aged 48. They have been married for 29 years and have had 13 children, 9 of whom have survived. Those children declared in the household are: William 23  a tanner, Arthur 20 a tanner, Fred 18 an engine tenter at match works, Herbert 17 a tanner, Frank 15 a shop boy, Harold 8 at school and Matilda F. 5 at school.

Prior to the outbreak of war Frank was employed by Walker Ltd (Tanners).

Frank enlisted in Bootle and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 48276 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 20, during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). 

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.

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

He was reported wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 13th September 1917:

King's Liverpool Regiment - Plummer, 48276, F. (Bootle); 

Subsequently, he was reported wounded and missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 05th October 1917:

King's Liverpool Regiment - Plummer, 48276, F.;

It was not until 1918 that a report in the Liverpool Echo dated 07th May 1918 confirmed Frank's death:

Pte Frank Plummer, K.L.R. youngest of five soldier sons of Mrs J. Plummer 270 Litherland Road, killed after reported wounded and missing July 31. He was formerly employed by Walker Ltd, tanners.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Joseph.

His family lived at 270 Litherland Road, Bootle after the war.

Frank is also commemorated on the  following Memorials:

Bootle Civic Memorial 

Linacre Council School 

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