Frank was serving in Kitchener’s 12th (Service) Bn which had landed in France in July 1915. The Bn took over trenches in Grid Square I24, south of Hooge in Flanders on 1 December. On the next day “The enemy’s artillery was very active bombarding our supports.”
On 3 December, “Enemy Artillery again very active to which our Artillery replied. Trenches in a very bad condition. Wet day.”
Frank was killed in the field, probably by a German shell. He was buried further north (Grid I28), in the field adjacent to Hooge Crater Cemetery, where he was reburied in @ 1920. 4 other members of 12th Bn died on the same day and have no known grave. As Frank has a grave it's possible he had been carried back to Hooge on a stretcher and died before receiving treatment.
Frank’s mother, Mary Ann Burton, received a pension and a War Gratuity of £3 – indicating he had only served a short period.
Frank was born in Putney in 1897 and appears to have been an inmate at the Styal Cottage’s (Workhouse) School in 1911.
Quotes from War Diary. Free to download.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352944June 1917 Trench Map attached credit NLS. The position of the trench line will have been different in 1915.
Welcome to the Forum.
Tim