South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War in Which Died | WW1 Campaign Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
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| France & Flanders | 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Meteren Military Cemetery |
| First Arrived in a War Theatre | Bravery & Conduct Medals | Warwickshire War Memorials |
| 22 Aug 1914 at Boulogne, France | ~ | Leamington No Known Memorial |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Messines | 27 November 1902 in Warwick | |
| Place of Death | Date and Place Mobilised | |
| Castre | 5 August 1914 in Warwick | |
Circumstances of Death
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Frank is listed as being killed in action on 13 Oct 1914. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below. Also badly wounded, shot through the right lung, during this battle was Lt. Montgomery who went onto to become Field Marshall Montgomery, leader of British forces in WW2. Castre - 13 Oct 1914: 2am: Arrived Castre and went into billets 9.20am: Orders to move to Meteren 9.38am: A & C Coys formed advance guard under Major Poole. 10am: On reaching Fletre enemy were reported to be holding high ground along ridges in front of Meteren. A & B Coys were deployed A of left B on right N of wall to advance & if possible to cross road. D Coy under Major Christie was sent up behind C Coy in support. Enemy retired into and just outside Meteren occupying trenches & houses. 11am: Regiment ordered to push on & endeavour to drive them out. 1pm: Gained outskirts of village but were held up & great need of supports C & D Coys again advanced and took several trenches but suffered severely. 1.30pm: G.O.C. ordered Regiment to halt & he would attack with Xth Brigade to North of Village & 12th Brigade was to attack on S of road. 2pm: 12th Brigade commence their attack 3pm: Seaforths attack on our left & through A Coy which withdrew at dusk to Planeboon. C & D Coys under Captain Freeman & Major Christie were unable to withdraw till much later owing to heavy fire but about 8pm the King’s Own came up & passed through them. 10pm: C & D Coys join Battalion at Planeboon, the Regiment becoming Reserve to Brigade. Meteren was taken during the night. Our casualties 42 killed, 85 wounded. Major Christie & Lt Gilcrist (died of wounds), Lt Montgomery (badly wounded). |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jul-Sep Qtr 1883 in Leamington Spa | 19 Sep 1883 at Leamington St John |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Charles James and Mary A. Harris | Leamington Spa |
| Wife and Marriage Details | Children |
| Ivy Aminda Harris nee Parsons | Norman Frank born 1 Jun 1913 |
| Jul-Sep Qtr 1909 in Coventry | |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1883 - 5 St. Georges Road, Leamington Spa | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - 1 White Street, Leamington | 1901 - Bakers Assistant |
| 1901 - 41 St Johns Road, Leamington | 1902 - Soldier in Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
| 1911 - 59 Raglan Street, Coventry | 1911 - Millrights Labourer & Reseverist (since 1905) |
| 1914 - 59 Raglan Street, Coventry | 1914 - Employed at the Triumph Works, Coventry |
Frank was brother to Alfred and Jack Harris who ran a newsagents in Leamington Spa