L/Cpl Frank Birchall

• Age: 23
• From: Kirkdale, Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th KLR
• Died on Thursday 3rd May 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Frank  was born in Liverpool in the third quarter of 1894, the son of Arthur  Birchall and his wife Emma (nee Giles).

He was baptised on 29th July 1894 at St Ploycarp's C. of E. Church. His father's occupation was then a fruit porter and the family address was 18 Milton Street.  

The 1901 Census shows 7 year old Frank living with his parents and three siblings at 9 Gordon Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, Arthur, is a 33 year old carter born in Liverpool, his mother is 31 years of age and was also born in Liverpool. His siblings, all born in Liverpool, are recorded as; George W. aged 10, Arthur aged 8 and Thomas aged 4.

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved and are living at 18 Kirk Street, Kirkdale. His father is 43 years of age and now a master carter, his mother is 41 years old, they state that they have been married for 21 years and have had six children five of whom have survived. There are five children in the household; George William is a 20 year old genreal carter, Arthur is an 18 year old fruit merchant's clerk, Frank is 16 years of age and a junior shipping clerk, Thomas aged 14 is a stable boy and Samuel is aged 8. 

Frank enlisted in Liverpool and joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24640. 

He arrived overseas with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

At some point he transferred to 13th Battalion K.L.R. and was killed as Lance Corporal on 03rd May 1917, aged 23.

Frank was part of 13th Btn when on 01st May 1917 they moved from Arras
.
"Throughout the night of 1st /2nd May the Bosche had placed a heavy gas shell, shrapnel and high explosive barrage,on the whole area West of Monchy and the ground South of it. The Barrage threw the back area into confusion.

At 3.45 a.m. on 3 May 1917 commenced The Third Battle of The Scarpe our 3rd Barrage in spite of the Gas and lachrymatory fumes which hung about our batteries near Monachy, opened up punctually, it was followed almost immediately by the Enemy's barrage. Two Companies of the 13th moved out of the front trench. Strong Lewis Gun Fire was maintained on the Enemy's front line to prevent his escaping the barrage by leaving his trenches.

A hostile counter attack was launched at the leading Companies from the North and North  East.
It was beaten back..........A second and strong hostile Counter attack which was delivered from the Northern flank, was met very gallantly, but the line was by this time so thin, no support having come up, that a withdrawal was necessary to prevent the troops being cut off."

The Kingsmen consolidated their position, though constantly under heavy fire.

The Battalion lost 10 Officers in that attack but the Battalion Diary does not give other ranks casualties. However, the Brigade H.Q. diary for May 1917 records total losses of the 13th King's from 02nd to 12th May 1917 as 12 Officers and 46 other ranks killed in action with 32 Missing  and 139 Wounded.

Frank Birchall, aged 23, was one of those statistics, although he was originally recorded as Missing as he was reported to the British Red Cross & Order Of St John Enquiry List.

His death was subsequently assumed as 03rd May 1917.   

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

Frank earned his three medals.   

He is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 12, Right.  

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