| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Frank was born in Beverley the 29 Jul 1897 the son of Joseph Henry and Sarah Jane Thacker (nee Clark). The family lived at 23 St Mary`s Terrace Beverley. Joseph was a general labourer born in Raywell and Sarah was born in Skidby. By 1911 Frank aged 13 was working as an errand boy for a butcher, he was also a helper in the gardens of Admiral Walker at The Hall. He attended St Marys Boys School.
Frank joined the Territorials on 30 Apr 1912 and transferred to the 5th Cyclists Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, then to the 4th Battalion and was attached to the Lewis Gun Section. He went to France on 1 Sep 1915 soon after his 18th birthday. By Feb 1916 he was in action in the front line of the Ypres Salient, Flanders where his Battalion was subjected to heavy bombardment from enemy positions on higher ground. Frank was wounded on 6 Feb 1916 and died 3 hours later despite being operated on at a dressing station. HIs mother Sarah received two letters informing her of her son`s death from soldiers who knew Frank well and were present at the dressing station.
Signaller WH Botham wrote on 7 Feb that Frank had been wounded by a bullet in the stomach. He had been acting as a Company Guide. He was operated on but "died a hero". Private C A Smales of the Royal Army Medical Corp wrote on the same day that Frank was conscious when brought into the dressing station and was operated on but died 3 hours later.
Frank Thacker is buried in Maple Copse Cemetery, Zillebeke, Flanders, Belgium, he was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Star.
He is remembered on the St Mary`s Church Roll of Honour, East Yorkshire Regiment Memorial in Beverley Minster, and Beverley War Memorial Hengate.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |