Pte 15714 Frank Walker

• Age: 34
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frank Walker was born on 09th October 1881 at Bootle, Liverpool, the son of William Walker and his wife Ann (née Tunna)  who were married on the 24th October 1865 at St Matthew’s Church, Liverpool. William was a 26 year old widower, and a provision dealer, of Great Homer Street, his father William, whilst Ann was aged 23 of Cleveland Square, her father Edward.

Frank was baptised on 13th November 1881 at St Mary's C. of E. Church, Bootle, his parents’ residence was at that time 10 Bibby’s Lane, Bootle. His mother was born in 1841 in Liverpool. His father was a widower when they married in 1865. Frank was the tenth of eleven children; his siblings were Mary, Martha, Eliza, William Tunna, Emily, John, and Edward, and a younger brother George. Two others, Emma and May, died in infancy.

He was educated at Arnot Street School, Walton from 1888. 

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is living at 49 County Road, Walton.  His father is 52, a grocer and provision dealer, his mother is 49.  They have nine children, the six eldest are working, and the three youngest are at school, Frank is 9.

His mother died in 1898 aged 56.

The 1901 Census shows the family are still living at 49, County Road, Liverpool. His father, William, is a widower aged 62, born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire in 1839 is working on his own account employed in provisions. He is living with four of his children, Martha aged 32, born 1869 with no occupation listed, Edward aged 23, born 1878 also deals with provisions like his father, Frank aged 19, is employed as a clerk for a coal merchants and George aged 16, born 1885 is an apprentice in a timber merchants.

Frank married Mary Pilling at St Luke the Evangelist Church, Walton, Liverpool on 18th December 1907.

The 1911 Census shows Frank and his family living at 9 Aston Street, Walton Liverpool. Frank is shown as aged 28, his occupation as a store clerk for a general supplier. His wife Mary aged 30, was born in Liverpool in 1881, and has no occupation listed. They have been married for five years and have two children, Emily aged 2, born 29th October 1908 and William aged 1 born 10th February 1910 both born in Liverpool. 

They went on to have three further children Minnie born 11th April 1912, Hilda born 09th May 1913 and Frank born 25th August 1914.

Frank enlisted at St George's Hall on the 02nd September 1914 joining the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15714. He was aged 32 years and 328 days and gave his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet seven inches tall, weighed 158lbs, 41" chest with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and he gave as next of kin, his wife Mary, at 261 Walton Lane, Liverpool, later 46 Jonville Road, Fazakerley. He states previous service with the 1st Vol. Bn. K.L.R., time expired.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 07^th November 1915. 

His father died, aged 76, whilst Frank was in training at Knowsley, in April 1915.

On 11th March 1916, in the field, he was awarded three days’ Field Punishment No.1 for being absent from rifle inspection.

Frank was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 34, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.       

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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 01st 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.”

Frank was the maternal cousin of Pte. Robert Eric Hayes Tunna, 19th Bn., lost at Guillemont on the same day, age 19. Robert, like Frank has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

Frank earned his three medals.

His children were 7, 6, 4, 3, and not yet two years old when Frank was killed. His widow Mary was awarded a pension of £1-7s a week from February 1917, increased in August 1920 to £3-2s-8d. and a War Gratuity of £8-10s. Soldiers Effects to brother and executor Edward.

A friend remembered Frank in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In affectionate remembrance of my life-long chum Frank, 1st Pals, killed in action July 30, 1916. - R. W.

In 1919 Mary provided information on Frank’s living relatives:  She and the five children were living at 46 Jonville Road. His brothers John and Edward lived in Liverpool, William and Martha lived over the water in Cheshire, Eliza lived in Blundellsands, and Emily and George had emigrated to Johannesburg.

In 1939 his widow Mary, 60, was living with daughters Minnie, 27, and Hilda, 26, still at 46 Jonville Road. The Pilling family tree states that she died, aged 82, on the 09th February 1962 on the Wirral.

Frank is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 33 Right, and on the family headstone in Anfield Cemetery -

                    In Loving Memory of

                      ALSO OF FRANK

DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF MARY WALKER

             FOURTH SON OF THE ABOVE

 KILLED IN ACTION, FRANCE, JULY 30TH 1916

                      AGED 34 YEARS

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