Frank Pearmain

Name

Frank Pearmain
18 July 1888

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

03/06/1917
28

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Air Mechanic 1st Class
26019
Royal Flying Corps
6th Sqdn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

LA CLYTTE MILITARY CEMETERY
I. E. 17.
Belgium

Headstone Inscription

He chose the path of duty

UK & Other Memorials

Not on the Hitchin Memorials

Pre War

Frank was born on 18 July 1888 in Hitchin and christened on 19 October 1888 in Hitchin. His parents were Walter Wiliam and Mary Pearmain (née Chote) who had married in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin on 17 January 1876..

In 1891 the family were living at 12 Union Road, Hitchin – an address consistently recorded in the following records. Present were both parents: Walter (40) and Mary (39), with Walter working as a joiner. Their children were: Mary (14), William (12), John (7), Ada Agnes (5) and Frank (2).

In 1901 both parents were present, with Walter still working as a joiner. Of the above children John and Frank were still recorded. Plus two boarders Herbert Cunnington (25) and Richard Cooper (24).

Frank sang bass as a chorister at St. Mary's Church and was also a member of the Blue Cross Football Club.

Post Office records show that Frank started working for them on 1 August 1906 as a postman in Hitchin, rising to a sorting office clear and telegraphist, which was recorded in 4 June 1914. After 10 years and 10 months service he was earning 37s a week.

By 1911 Frank’s family were still at their usual address, present were both parents, Walter now recorded as a carpenter. The census recorded they had been married for 35 years with 7 children, of whom 2 had died. The only one of their children still present was John who was 27 and also a carpenter. Frank was found boarding at Petersfield Road, Midhurst Sussex, in the Clark family home, and working as a post office clerk for the general post office.

Officially he was a native of Hitchin.

Wartime Service

So initially he was in the Royal Engineers as Sapper 1087 and went to the Dardanelles, disembarking there on 28 July 1915. He was invalided home with dysentery and later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as a wireless telegraphist. 

His service record for his Attestment into the Royal Flying Corps on 3 May 1916. It gives his age as 27 years and 317 days, his birth location as the parish of St Mary’s, Hitchin and his home address as 12 Union Road, Hitchin. His trade was a wireless operator (learner) and it acknowledges his previous service of 1 year and 9 months as Sapper No. 1087 in the 3/1st East Anglian Divisional Signal Co. Royal Engineers. He was described as 6’ 1” tall with a 38” chest (fully expanded). He was discharged on 29 March 1916 in order for him to re-enlist in the Royal Flying Corps the following day.

He went to France on the 23rd December 1916 as a wireless operator in 6 Squadron attached to the 186 Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. His Service Number was Air Mechanic 1st Class, 26019. 

The Germans shelled his wireless station and, as he left, he was hit by a shell splinter in the groin causing arterial bleeding which could not be stopped. He went unconscious almost immediately and  died of wounds on 3 June 1917, after being taken to the 58th Field Ambulance. As that time he was with 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps but attached to the 186th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, quite possibly liaising between pilot spotters and the RGA.

He is buried in Plot 1, Row E, Grave 17 in La Clytte Military Cemetery, Reninghelst. Belgium. There is a private inscription on the stone reading "He chose the path of duty". The cemetery is about seven miles southwest of Ypres and includes 250 bodies of artillerymen reflecting the type of activity that took place in the area. 

Additional Information

it is possible that Frank’s job at the post office was kept for him after his enlistment because post office records continue on and after his death June 1917, recording that he died as a result of wounds received in action and recorded that “Mr Frank Pearmain discharged his duties with diligence and fidelity to the satisfaction of his superior officers.” Recorded by command of the postmaster general and recorded in August 1917. As a result of his service with the Post Office, and his death, a gratuity of £106 3s 9d was issued to his Estate.

After his death £2 13s 7d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, Walter, on 26 September 1917, there was no war gratuity issued.

His pension cards record Mrs Mary Pearmain as his mother and as his dependant, living at 12 Union Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 7s 6d a week from 11 December 1917.

His British War and Victory medals were issued 9 August 1922 and his 1914/15 Star on 20 December 1924

Probate was obtained by his father on 9 August 1917, with the value of his effects being £532 5s 6d.

Frank is also commemorated on the family headstone in Hitchin Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:

Acknowledgments

Pearl Townsend, Jonty Wild, https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3449265