2552 Private Frank Thompson 1/6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (Territorial Force) Born in 1892, Frank Thompson came from Fazeley and his parents lived in Coleshill Street. He was married and he and his wife, Elizabeth, lived in Church Street in Tamworth. Frank had worked at Tolson’s Bleach Works and had served with “C” Company of the 6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment before the war but had left at the end of his period of engagement. He re-enlisted shortly after the outbreak of the war. Private Thompson went to France with “C” Company of the 1/6th North Staffords in March 1915. He also qualified as one of the battalion’s scouts. In May 1915, he was serving in the line near Wulverghem. On the night of the 11 May, he was sitting outside Shell Farm with two of his comrades, Corporal Leon Stretton and Basil Green, when he was wounded. Basil Green wrote to Frank’s wife to tell her what had happened: "Frank asked me to write and tell you he had been unfortunate enough to get slightly wounded. I say slightly, because I have every hope that he will soon recover. He was sitting outside the farm last night with Cpl Stretton and myself, he being between us, when a bullet struck him in the stomach. He received immediate attention, and was taken straight to the doctor. He asked me to write and tell you not to worry as he was going to get better soon. He was quite cheerful. It was a great shock to us, as we were sitting talking quietly, waiting for the battalion to be relieved. All the Scouts are very sorry, as he was a great favourite, and the life and soul of our hut, but we console ourselves when we remember he will soon be back with you in England and out of this terrible war. It is impossible for us to know the extent of his wound, but he was immediately taken to hospital, where he will receive most careful attention at the hands of most skilful men." Private Thompson was taken to the Regimental Aid Post at R.E. Farm and from there was evacuated to Bailleul, where he reached No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station. It was clear that his wound would prove to be fatal. Frank died in hospital on 13 May 1915. Captain John Jenkinson, who had commanded “C” Company before the war, wrote to Frank’s mother to express his sympathy: “I personally feel his death. He has been under my command for some years at Tamworth and I always had a high opinion of him as a soldier. Lieut. Fox Wardle, under whom your son trained as a battalion scout, has often spoken to me about him, looking upon him as one of the best men under his command." Private Thompson is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension: Plot I, Row A, Grave 127. His widow remarried after the war.
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 21:51:13 +0000
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