Name
Frank Oliver Ayre
25/03/1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/10/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4867
London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles)
1st (County of London) 15th Bn.
'C' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WARLENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
VII. C. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
"IN OUR HEARTS HE WILL NEVER DIE"
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Cuthbert's Rye Park Church Memorial, Rye Park, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne
Pre War
Frank Oliver AYRE was born on 25th March 1897, in Rye Park, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, son of Edward Angelo Ayre a Blacksmith and Ellen Ayre (nee Benthorpe). One of their five children, although two died in infancy. His parents married in Bromley, Kent, in July 1887.
He was Baptised Frank Oliver Ayre, on 4th July 1897, in Hoddesdon, Herts.
1901 Census records Frank aged 4 living with his parents, two brothers, Harry (13), and Sidney (8), at 1 May Terrace, Stanstead Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.,
Believed educated at Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne, Herts.
1911 Census, Frank (14) is still at school, living with his parents and two brothers, at 81 Old Highway, Rye Park, Hoddesdon, Herts.
Wartime Service
Frank enlisted in London, in late November 1915, posted to the 1st/15th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment, (Prince of Wales’s Own, Civil Service Rifles), issued with the service No. 4867.
On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front. Frank was Killed in Action on 7th October 1916, aged 19, during the Attack on the Butte de Warlencourt (attack on the Butte de Warlencourt 7th October – 16th November 1916) he is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, France. Grave Ref: VII. C. 4.
Additional Information
His effects of £3-11-00 pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his father Edward Ayre.
A Pension Card exists for his mother Ellen as a dependent, but no pension amount is recorded.
His Headstone Inscription “IN OUR HEARTS HE WILL NEVER DIE” was requested by his mother Ellen.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
