Name
Frank Henry John Greenham
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/07/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
522237
Royal Engineers
249th (East Anglian) Field Coy. attd. R.N. Div
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ACHEUX BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot 1 Row E Grave 24
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Hatfield War Memorial
Pre War
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Greenham, of Hatfield, Herts.
In the 1901 Census, Frank, aged 2, was living with parents Frank and Annie and sister Edith at 10 Glebe Cottages. His father was a self employed Hairdresser. By 1911 the family had moved with his family to 1 Church Street, Hatfield. Father, Frank was still a self-employed hairdresser. He has another sister in the family. Also listed on the census is a boarder who is an assistant hairdresser.
He volunteered in Aug. 1915 and lived at 22 Inkman Rd. St. Albans
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield when he enlisted in Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
In April 1916 he was drafted to France with the Royal Engineers, Number 522237 249th field Coy., R.E. He was engaged on important duties in connection with the operations and was frequently in the fighting lines, especially in the Somme and Ypres sections.
In March 1917 he was invalided home. At the time of being wounded he was attached to the Royal Naval Division.
He returned to the Western Front, where he rendered valuable service until K.I.A. on July 3rd 1918.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of September 1916, in the thirteenth list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Greenham Frank H. J. Church St.- Royal Engineers.” and then in August 1918: Hatfield Roll of Honour, Two more gallant sons of Hatfield have given their lives for their King and Country, by the deaths of Sergt. William Hill 1st Herts and Frank Greenham R.E. Though the family of the latter had left Hatfield there are many relatives still residing here to morn his loss and many will regret the sunny open face of the boy who was known and liked by many and who was for several years a chorister. His commanding officer writs of him, “As his section officer I had come to esteem him very highly; he had a quiet gentlemanly manner with a lovable disposition; at work he could always be trusted to do his job conscientiously and well, and off duty he was a great sportsman, entering with zest all the sports and games of the Company. He was very much liked by everyone in the section. Your son went out on a job wiring the front line; everything went well until the work was nearly finished when he was hit by a machine gun bullet in the chest. He was carried down to the aid post by stretcher bearers and though suffering some pain bore it bravely..........he sent back a message “Tell the boys I feel a bit groggy but will write them for certain from Blighty”, but he died about two hours later after reaching the dressing station: Your son was buried at the British Military Cemetery at Acheux and we are making a cross for the grave which will be fixed in a few days”.
Awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Greenham (Mother) of 20 or 22 Inkerman Road, St Albans had received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
