Pte 4625 Frank Chambers Boadle

Frank Chambers Boadle was born in the March quarter of 1890 at 4 Southwood Road, Toxteth Park to Liverpool born tea dealer William Boadle and his Liverpool born wife Elizabeth Ann (nee Costigan). They married in Liverpool in the June quarter of 1880 and had four sons and one daughter. Frank was their fifth and final child. He was baptised on 09th February 1890 at St Silas Church, Toxteth. 

 

The April 1891 Census finds Frank, aged 1, living with his parents, four siblings and 2 domestic servants still at 4 Southwood Road, Toxteth.

His father is shown as a Tea Merchant/Grocer. His siblings are recorded as; Charles G. aged 10, William A. aged 8, Albert E. aged 6 and Lililan M. age 3.   

His brother William Arthur died aged 16 in the December quarter of 1898.

 

The April 1901 Census shows Frank now aged 11 is living with his parents, three siblings and 2 domestic servants now at their new home named "Teutonia" on Aigburth Rd in Toxteth Park. His siblings are listed as Charles Grayson aged 20 and a commercial traveller, Albert Ernest aged 16 and an apprentice in the timber trade and Lillian May aged 13.  

 

The April 1911 Census shows 21 year old Frank as single and listed as a timber clerk living with his parents, sister Lilian May aged 23 and 1 domestic servant at 1 Manley Road, Waterloo. His parents state that they have been married for 30 years and have had five children of whom four have survived.   

 

Frank enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 01st September 1914 joining the 17th Battalion (Pals) of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15181. He is aged 24 Years and 243 days, and employed as a clerk.He is described as being 5' 8" in height, weighs 138 lbs with a  38 inch chest, is of fresh complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. His religion is stated as Church of England.

 

On 21 June 1915 authority is received from G.O.C. the 89th Division to discharge him on 31st August 1915 and for him to report to Lincoln's Inn Kensington, Inns of Court Officer Training College. There he enlisted in the 13th Battalion London Regiment. Whether he failed or resigned is not known but on 02nd February 1916 he becomes Private 4625 with 1/13th London Regiment (Kensington) and was sent over to France where on 01st July 1916 he is killed in action with the 13th London Regiment just east of Hebuterne, he was aged 26. 

 

His body was never found and Frank is commemorated on the 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 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 death was reported in the Liverpool Echo dated 11th, 12th and 13th July 1916:

 

 

His Soldiers Pay arrears of £4:5s:10d is sent on 25th October 1916 to his father. Followed by a War Gratuity of £3 on 17th September 1919

 

There is no trace of any award of a dependents pension to his family

 

On 1 July 1918 his Parents place a Memoriam to him in the Liverpool Echo:

BOADLE - In loving memory of FRANK CHAMBERS youngest son of Mr and Mrs William Boadle, killed in action, July 1,1916.    

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