Name
Frank Primett
9 March 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
14026
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Ickleford memorials
Pre War
Frank Primett was born on 9 March 1886 in Ickleford, Herts, the son of Albert and Agnes Primett and baptised there on 25 April 1886.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 2 Taylors Cottages, Old Park Road, Hitchin where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer.
He married Alice Gertrude Emms (b 12/1/1885) in 1905, they had three children born before the next census; Frank (b 21/12/1905), Dora (b 15/10/1906), Florence (b 6/1/1909).
On the 1911 Census they were living at 7 Union Path, Hitchin, Herts. with their three children, Frank (5), Dora (4) and Florence (2). They later had two more children, Maud (1912) and Alice (1913). At that time, Frank was working as a bricklayer's labourer.
On the pension records, his widow gave her address as 18 Spencer Road, Luton, Beds.
Officially he was recorded as born in Ickleford and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Frank was said to be a soldier with a Territorial Regiment when war broke out and was mobilised in August 1914 (according to National Roll of the Great War). He had enlisted in Hitchin and served with the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 30 August 1915. He initially served as a Lance Corporal, later being promoted to Corporal. He fought in the Battle of Loos in September and was subjected to the first German use of Phosgene Gas in December.
The 8th Battalion attacked a strongpoint known as the ‘Quadrilateral’ opposite Ginchy and Bouleaux Wood on the 15th September 1916. Of the tanks that were supposed to have been in advance of the infantry, only one appeared and that immediately stuck in the mud. In the attack, they were assisted by the Heavy Section of the Machinegun Corps. Zero hour was 6.20am in three assault waves. Quadrilateral on the left flank with ‘B’ Company attacking the trench leading to it. At 6.00am heavy artillery opened a slow barrage on the line Morval to Les Boeufs. At zero hour the barrage became more intense but was cut short leading to numerous casualties. At 6.00pm they were relieved and put into Brigade Reserve. The attack had failed and the casualties were numbered in hundreds.
The Battalion suffered severe casualties on this day and Frank is one of 113 who died, many of whom have no known grave and, like Frank, are named on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
He was killed in action on 15 September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (part of the Battle of the Somme).
Frank has an entry in the National Roll of the Great War which suggests that he was engaged in heavy fighting and fought at the Battles of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, Hill 60 and Festubert – these were normally placed by family members using what they knew and are not always 100% correct so his possible involvement in these battles needs checking against the Battalion war diaries.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £4 1a 3d, She also received a pension of £1 12s 6d a week. She later remarried to William Leach in 1919 and they were living at 17 Wallflower Street, Hammersmith on the 1939 Register.
His pension cards record Alice Gertrude Primett as his widow and as his dependant, living at 18 Spencer Road, Luton, Beds. It also records their children as Frank (b 21/12/1905), Dora (b 15/10/1906), Florence (b 6/1/1909), Maud (b 4/4/1912) and Alice (b 21/6/1913).She was awarded a grant on 7 August 1917 and then a pension of 31s 6d a week from 9 April 1917.
Brother to Charles Primett who served with the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, died on 12 October 1916 and is also named on the Thiepval Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
