Frank Thompson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frank Thompson was born in 1890 at Beckingham he was the son of Lucy Thompson born 1869 at Althorpe, In 1911 he lived with his widowed grandmother Sarah Ann Thompson at Beecher Lane Beckingham Nottinghamshire. Frank married his wife Martha Reavill (born 9th March 1895,) they were married in 1911 their marriage was recorded in the Gainsborough registration district, they lived at Beeches House, Beckingham and had the following children, John William born 7th November 1911, Fanny Irene born 15th February 1913 and Francis William 26th April 1914. Commencing 22nd April 1918 his widow was awarded a pension of 26 shillings and 3 pence a week.
Private Frank Thompson enlisted at Retford, entered theatre after 1 January 1916 and was posted to the 9th battalion. On 4 October 1917 the battalion took part in the Battle of Broodseinde and were tasked to take Ferdan House and its trench on the outskirts of the village of Poelcappelle. The attack began at 6 am and the companies moved off behind a creeping barrage. By 7.18 am the first objective had been taken and consolidated. The darkness made keeping direction difficult but the attack continued despite enemy strong points full of machine guns. Rifles began to jam because of the mud and wet. No close quarter fighting took place as the enemy retreated as the troops got to within 20 yards of them. The next objective was reached and a large concrete emplacement faced them. It was here that Corporal Greaves won the Victoria Cross, when he and another NCO rushed forward and threw a bomb into it. They had faced four machine guns which were in the emplacement. The battalion moved forward and took the last objective despite heavy machine gun from Ferdan House. The assault had been a great success but at heavy cost to the battalion who had some 80 men killed and 59 of these have no known grave. Frank is one of these men and they are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. John Morse
The information on Frank Thompson has been provided courtesy of the Beckingham and Saundby local history group. With additional information from John Morse
