51674 Private Frank Lester VC
10th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
who died on
Saturday, 12th October 1918.
Age 22.

Frank Lester was born on 18th February 1896 in Huyton, Liverpool to John and Ellen Lester. He spent his early childhood in Hoylake where he attended Hoylake National School. Frank was a keen member of Hoylake Boys Brigade and also played the organ for the local congregation at the Methodist 'Tin Chapel'.

On completing his education, Frank trained initially as a joiner until his family moved to Millers Hay in Irby. Here he worked alongside his father in their family run market garden business.

In 1916, Frank enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers and was posted to France in 1917. In early 1918 he was wounded but he returned to duty in September of that year. On 12th October, one month before the end of the war, Frank was killed at Neuvilly in France in the action for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery.

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31067, dated 13th Dec., 1918, records the following:

'For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice during the clearing of the village of Neuvilly, on 12th October, 1918, when, with a party of about seven men under an officer, he was the first to enter a house from the back door, and shot two Germans as they attempted to get out by the front door. A minute later a fall of masonry blocked the door by which the party had entered. The only exit into the street was under fire at point-blank range. The street was also swept by fire of machine guns at close range. Observing that an enemy sniper was causing heavy casualties to a party in a house across the street, Pte. Lester exclaimed, "I'll settle him," and, dashing out into the street, shot the sniper at close quarters, falling mortally wounded at the same instant. This gallant man well knew it was certain death to go into the street, and the party opposite was faced with the alternative of crossing the fire-swept street or staying where it was and being shot one by one. To save their lives he sacrificed his own.'

He lies in Neuvilly Communal Cemetery and Extension, Nord, France. Neuvilly is a small village 6 kilometres north-north-west of Le Cateau on the road to Valenciennes (D955). The Communal Cemetery and extension are on the north side of the village outskirts and on the north side of the main road (D955).

The VC was sold in 2002 and can now be seen in the display of Lord Ashcroft's collection of VCs in the Imperial War Museum Lond

Private Fred Hall, aged 22, who resided at 84, Langley Lane, Hebers, and was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed on July 7th, 1916.
This soldier joined the forces in February of 1916, arriving in France in June of the same year. He was killed in action during the battle of the Somme, his body being subsequently found in a shell hole north-east of Albert in September, 1916.

Private Fred Hall’s burial plot must have been lost again in further fighting as he’s commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

Private Fred Heywood was killed in action in July, 1917, whilst fighting with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was 40 years of age, and resided at 8, East View, Middleton, joining the forces on August 22nd 1916, and going to the front in December of that year. He was employed by Messrs. T. B. Wood and Son, Park Mill, and was connected with the New Jerusalem Church.

Private Heywood has no known grave, so his name is on the Arras Memorial to the Missing

Private Harry Anslow, is the son of Mr and Mrs Anslow, of 18, Clarkson Street, Rhodes, was killed in action on May 12th, 1917, whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers. The deceased soldier was 28 years of age and joined the army in April 1916, going to France in November of that year. Prior to enlistment he was a branch manager with one of Duckworth's shops in Rochdale. He was a member of All Saints Church Rhodes.

Private Tom Delaney, son of Mr and Mrs Delaney of Stocks Lane Alkrington, was killed in action on May 12th, 1917, whilst fighting with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He worked at the Lodge Mills and was connected with St Peters Church

Corporal Ernest Smithies, age 24, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, previously reported missing, was afterwards presumed to have been killed. He was a son of Mr and Mrs Smithies, of 60, Boardman Lane, Rhodes, and enlisted in April, 1917, going to the front in August of same year. He was employed by the Rhodes Cooperative Society and was connected with the Rhodes Wesleyan Church

We have three Middleton men today, as they all died together in the same attack. The taking of German trenches at Gavrelle. Unfortunately this attack was unsuccessful, they were machine gunned down and the few who made it into the trenches were forced back into their own lines. 13 out of 15 officers and 226 other ranks were casualties.
The wounded had to crawl back, one officer, Second Lt Charnley, survived 3 days surviving on cigarettes and iron rations.

As the attack was a failure, the dying men were left in no mans land as it would have been too dangerous to bring their bodies in for burial, which would explain why 95% of the dead from this battalion who died on this day have no known grave, the three Middleton men are among those whose name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Private George Kenyon, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action in France, on February 4th, 1917. He resided at 9, Manchester New Road, Middleton, and joined the colours in August, 1915, going to France on February 4th, 1916. He was killed exactly 12 months to the day from landing in France. He was only 19 years of age, and left a widow and one child. Prior to enlisting he worked at the Irk Mill and was an enthusiastic footballer, having played with Newtown.

Private Kenyon is believed to be buried at
Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, France.

Private Frank Cartwright, aged 23, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in France on October 18th, 1918. He resided at 86 Green Street, Middleton, and was employed at the Soudan Mill.
Enlisting in the army on January 21st, 1916, he proceeded to Egypt and afterwards to France. He had previously been wounded three times. Cartwright was connected with St. Michael's Church and School, and was a member of the Sunday School Cricket and Football League. He also had the honour of winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal.*

*(I haven't been able to verify this, as there is no record of him winning one)

His brother Peter, was killed the year before in November, 1917.

Both brothers have no known grave
Frank is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.

Private Albert Harvey Jepson, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and who resided at Brassey Street, Middleton, was killed in action on August 18th, 1916. He was 22 years of age and joined the army under the Derby scheme in April 1916, and had only been at the front a few weeks when he was killed.

He was formally employed by Messrs. Chadwick and Smith, Middleton. He was well known in Blackley, also his parents residing at Pike Fold House, and as a boy he attended the Blackley Municipal School.

Private Jepson has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.

Private Harry Anslow, is the son of Mr and Mrs Anslow, of 18, Clarkson Street, Rhodes, was killed in action on May 12th, 1917, whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers. The deceased soldier was 28 years of age and joined the army in April 1916, going to France in November of that year. Prior to enlistment he was a branch manager with one of Duckworth's shops in Rochdale. He was a member of All Saints Church Rhodes.

Private Tom Delaney, son of Mr and Mrs Delaney of Stocks Lane Alkrington, was killed in action on May 12th, 1917, whilst fighting with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He worked at the Lodge Mills and was connected with St Peters Church

Corporal Ernest Smithies, age 24, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, previously reported missing, was afterwards presumed to have been killed. He was a son of Mr and Mrs Smithies, of 60, Boardman Lane, Rhodes, and enlisted in April, 1917, going to the front in August of same year. He was employed by the Rhodes Cooperative Society and was connected with the Rhodes Wesleyan Church

We have three Middleton men today, as they all died together in the same attack. The taking of German trenches at Gavrelle. Unfortunately this attack was unsuccessful, they were machine gunned down and the few who made it into the trenches were forced back into their own lines. 13 out of 15 officers and 226 other ranks were casualties.
The wounded had to crawl back, one officer, Second Lt Charnley, survived 3 days, surviving on cigarettes and iron rations.

As the attack was a failure, the dying men were left in no mans land as it would have been too dangerous to bring their bodies in for burial, which would explain why 95% of the dead from this battalion who died on this day, have no known grave, the three Middleton men are among those whose name is commemorated on the Arras Memoria

Private George Kenyon, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action in France, on February 4th, 1917. He resided at 9, Manchester New Road, Middleton, and joined the colours in August, 1915, going to France on February 4th, 1916. He was killed exactly 12 months to the day from landing in France. He was only 19 years of age, and left a widow and one child. Prior to enlisting he worked at the Irk Mill and was an enthusiastic footballer, having played with Newtown.

Private Kenyon is believed to be buried at
Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, France.

10th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
1918, St Quintin, Bapaume,Amiens, Havrincourt,Epehy,Cambrai,Selle,Sambre

Private James Tiffney, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed on November 4th, 1916. A comrade wrote; "He was killed whilst doing a kind action. He was very much liked by all the comrades in the platoon all of whom send our deepest sympathy to you in your great loss.
He and I were very great pals and always shared everything we had. Private Tiffney saw a wounded man on the ground in terrible pain, so he rushed off for the stretcher bearers. On the way back there was a great deal of sniping going on. The stretcher bearers got the wounded man away and Private Tiffney was going down the road to the trench when a sniper shot him in the arm. He got up again and was shot through the lung. He dropped without speaking a word. It was the first time in the trenches for him. The late soldier who resided at 40, Boarshaw Road, was 24 years of age, and prior to joining the army in May, 1916 was employed at the Times Mill. He was a regular attender at the Parish Church.

Private Tiffney has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.