Pte 24245 Francis Frear

• Age: 30
• From: Lowick Bridge
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Francis (Frank )Frear was born on the 24th January 1886 in Lowick Bridge, on the edge of the Lake District south of Coniston Water,  the son of James Frear and his wife Mary Jane (nee Stott). His parents married in 1884 in Kendal district; Frank was the second of their eight children. He had an elder sister, Sarah Alice (who died in infancy), and younger siblings James Albert, Mary Louisa, and John Stott. 

By 1891 the family had moved to Bispham, near Blackpool, Lancashire, where Margaret Eleanor (who died in infancy) and Edith were born, and then a few miles east to Carleton, where Edmund Walter was born.  

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Ingthorpe Grange, Bispham. Francis is 5 years of age and is the eldest of four children. His father, James, is a farmer born in 1857 at Dent, Yorkshire, whilst his mother was born at Old Hutton, Westmorland in 1862. His siblings are listed as; James A. b. Lowick Bridge in 1887, Mary Louisa b. Singleton in 1889 and John Stott b.1890 at Lowick Bridge. There are also three servants in the household, two farm workers and one domestic.

By 1901 the family have moved to Whiteholme Farm, Carleton, Fylde. Both parents are present as are his three siblings from the 1891 Census and his two additional siblings both born at Carleton; Edith b. 1893 and Edmund W. b.1896. There are two servants listed at the property.

By 1911 the family have moved to Liverpool. They are living at 4 Back Mount Vernon Green, Edge Hill. Frank is shown as a 25 year old compositor with the Liverpool Courier. His  parents are both present in the household, his father is a 54 cowkeeper, employer, working at home, and his mother is 49. They advise that they have been married for 27 years and have had eight children, two of whom have died. Frank's siblings listed in the household are ; James Albert a 23 year old Dairyman, Mary Louisa a 22 year old Confectioner, Edith 18 has no occupation listed and Edmund Walter  aged 15 is also a Dairyman. Both James and Edmund assist their father.

John, 21, also a cowkeeper, is found in the household of his uncle and aunt William and Margaret French and their family in Freehold Street, Fairfield, Liverpool.

It is known that after the 1911 Census Frank was working for Dugan & Co. printers of 247 Smithdown Lane . 

Frank enlisted in Liverpool joining in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24245. His regimental number, as well as the amount of the War Gratuity, suggest that Frank volunteered in December 1914.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. 

Frank sailed to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

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

19^th Battalion Diary 

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th 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 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th 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.    

Frank's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

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.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 04th September 1916:

Private Frank Frear, K.L.R., of Myrtle-street, killed in action.

He earned his three medals. (His 1914-1915 Star was issued in the name of Freear and was returned for adjustment.)

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his executor William E. Dugan. Probate of £84-0s-3d was granted to William Ernest Dugan, Private 308116, 7th K.L.R. (although it shows 1/8th on his medal roll) on the 11th September 1916 in Liverpool  (William Dugan, born in Middlesex was the same age as Frank and on the 1911 census was living in Wavertree, employed as a printer, most likely in the family business.)

A pension card in the name of his mother, at 59 Myrtle Street, shows that she was granted a gratuity in lieu of a pension in February 1917.

Frank was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost at Battle of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of Frank Frear, of the 19th K.L.R. (3rd Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. - Fondly remembered by all at home.”

FREAR - In loving memory of Private Frank Frear 19th King's (Liverpool) Regiment ("Pals"), who died from wounds received in France. July 30 1916; also of James Frear. father of the above, who died September 20 1917, sadly missed by all at home, also John and Walter (in France). 

His father died the 20th September 1917, aged 61.

Frank was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In loving memory of Private Frank Frear, 19th King's (Liverpool) Regt. ("Pals"), who died from wounds received in France July 30, 1916; also of James Frear, father of the above, who died September 20, 1917.  Sadly missed by all at home, also John and Walter (in France)."

The 1918 notice refers to his brothers being in France. John's service has not been definitively identified.

Walter attested on 10th December 1915, aged 19,  he was mobilised on 17th April 1916, in the 10th K.L.R.(Liverpool Scottish), and was sent to France in February 1917. He was wounded in the leg in May 1917, returned home in July 1918 and was demobbed in September 1918.

He was also remembered by his family on his birthday in the Liverpool Evening Express on Friday 24 January 1919: 

FREAR - In loving birthday remembrance of Frank Frear, son of the late James and Mary J. Frear, of 59 Myrtle-street, killed in action, July 30, 1916— Sadly missed by all at home and John and Walter in France) 

His brothers James and John both had sons they called Francis.

His mother died on the 05th November 1930, aged 69.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 07 November 1930: 

FREAR— November 5 at 9 Church-road, Garston, aged 69 years, MARY JANE, beloved wife of the late James Frear. Interment at Toxteth Park Cemetery, to-day (Friday) 2 p.m. (Friends accept this— the only intimation)  

FREAR—of 9 Church-road, Garston, MARY JANE FREAR. Service at St Mary's, Edge Hill, today (Friday) at 1.30 p.m., prior to the interment. 

Frank is commemorated on the following memorials -

St.Mary's Parish Church, Edge Hill

Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 64.

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