Name
Frank William Bayford (MM)
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
15044
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Gilston War Memorial, Not on the Bishop's Stortford memorials, Little Hallingbury War Memorial, Essex,
Pre War
Frank William Bayford was born on 22nd August 1894 in Little Hallingbury and baptised on 11th November 1894, the second son of George (1861-1908) and Emily Bayford (1865-1931). George Bayford, a factory labourer had married Emily Brewster on 12th April 1884 and they had seven children: four boys and three girls: Florence (1884-1952); Ethel (1886-1971); George, born in 1890; Mary, born in 1892; Frank (1894-1917); Herbert (1896-1970) and Ernest (1902-1964).
The family was living in Lower Road, Little Hallingbury in 1901 and 1911. George Bayford, Frank’s father, died in 1906, aged 45. In 1911 Frank, aged 16, was living with his widowed mother, together with George, a cowman on a farm, Herbert, a domestic house boy and Ernest. Frank was working as a gardener in the employment of Mr A.S. Bowbly of Gilston Park.
Wartime Service
Frank joined the 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and arrived in France on the 30/07/15. The 7/Beds were in the 54th Brigade of the 18th (Eastern) Division.
According to a newspaper report, Frank William Bayford joined the army almost immediately war broke out. After his training he was sent to France in July 1915, where he served up to the time of his death. He was awarded the Military Medal due to his “gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field at the capture of Thiepval”, which took place in September 1916. Sergeant Frank Bayford was killed at the Battle of Arras on 3rd May 1917. An officer’s letter states that, “He suffered no pain, as he was killed instantly. He was a gallant soldier and always an example to his men.” One of his men wrote, “He was setting us a glorious example when he met his death. I myself have been in his platoon since the battalion was formed and saw with great pleasure his promotion and award, as I know none deserved it better.”
At the end of September 1916, as part of the Battle of the Somme, the Division took part in the attack on the village of Thiepval and then the nearby Schwaben Redoubt, and for his actions during these attacks Frank was recommended to receive the Military Medal. On the 03/05/17, as part of the Battle of Arras, the 18th Division attacked the village of Cherisy and the trenches beyond. Frank may have been one of over 250 casualties that the 7/Beds suffered that day.
The body of Frank William Bayford was never found and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. The memorial commemorates 34,785 soldiers of the forces of the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand, with no known grave.
Additional Information
The announcement of the award of the Military Medal appears in the 21/12/1916 edition of the London Gazette. His mother Emily received a war gratuity of £15 and his pay owing was divided between his mother, brother Ernest and sisters Florence, Ethel and Mary. N.B. Little Hallingbury, although in the county of Essex, is very near to Bishop's Stortford.
The newspaper article stated that two brothers of Frank William Bayford were serving abroad. Herbert Bayford was serving with the Army Service Corps. The identity of the other brother is not known at present.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Anthony Hodgkins, Philip Hays
