Pte 15896 Frank Foster Harper

• Age: 22
• From: Liscard, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frank Foster Harper was born in about June 1894 in Liscard, Birkenhead, the son and the only child of Thomas Harwood Harper and his wife Florence (nee Foster). His parents married in 1891 in Birkenhead.  

At the time of the 1901 Census six-year old Frank is living with his parents and a domestic servant at 6 Belgrave Street, Wallasey. His father Thomas is aged 39, an underwriter in an insurance office, born Liverpool, mother Florence is aged 35 also born in Liverpool. 

He was educated at Birkenhead School from 1905 to 1910.

On leaving School he was employed in the Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company, and at the outbreak of war was an assistant surveyor in the fire branch.   

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 12 Kingsmead Road North, Oxton, Birkenhead. His father Thomas is aged 49, born  in Liverpool in 1862, his occupation is shown as a marine insurance underwriter. His mother Florence aged 45, born in Liverpool in 1866 has no occupation listed. They have been married for 20 years and have one child; Frank Foster aged 16, born 1895 who is a fire and life insurance apprentice. Also at the address are visitors Martha Foster aged 58, born 1853, Emma Foster aged 55, 1856 and both born in Liverpool. They also have a lady help Effie Moses aged 25, born 1886 born in Manchester and Edith Hollies a servant aged 26, born 1886 in Dudley.

Frank enlisted on 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15896. He gave his age as 20 years and 25 days and his occupation as an Insurance Surveyor, he states that he has been an apprentice "but not bound". He was described as being five feet ten inches tall, weighed 144lbs, 34” chest, with a sallow complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service records show:

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

26.11.15: Carelessly discharging rifle on parade. Confined to barracks for seven days.

27.6.16: Wounded with gunshot wound to his back and neck and was admitted to 96 Field Ambulance then admitted to 21 Casualty Clearing Station.

29.6.16: Rejoined the Battalion. 

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. He was in the machine gun section, and during the advance they waited in a shell hole for an opportunity to proceed. A German gas shell exploded and carried off practically the whole section.

17th Battalion Diary 

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.       

The Birkenhead News in their edition of 12th August 1916 reported the news of Frank's death:

Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Harper, of 12, Kingsmead-road North, Oxton, have received the sad news that their only son, Frank Foster Harper, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action on July 30th. The deceased, who was in his 23rd year, was educated at Birkenhead School, and one of many old boys of that school who joined the Forces at the beginning of the war. He entered the King's Regiment as a private, and went through the full training with his Battalion. 

The Liverpool Echo also reported:  

Mr Thomas H. Harper, the deputy chairman of the Liverpool Underwriters Association, has founded at the Birkenhead School two annual French prizes to be called the "Frank Harper Memorial Prizes," in memory of his son, Private Frank Harper, who killed in action on July 30 last.  

A fellow Pal paid tribute to Frank on 14th August 1916 in the Liverpool paper:

"July 30, killed in action, Private Frank Harper ("Pals"). - Sadly missed by his friend and comrade, Bobbie Sinkings."  

(James Robert Sinkings, Private 15994, 17th Bn., later 4th K.L.R., who survived the war.)

He was reported as killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on 12th September 1916: 

Killed. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) Harper, 15986, F. (Birkenhead); 

Franks body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Frank earned his three medals.

The War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father.

No pension card has been found, suggesting that Frank's parents did not apply for a pension.

Probate was granted on 28th August 1916:

Harper Frank Foster of 20 Kingsmead Road North, Oxton, Birkenhead died 30 July 1916 in France. Administration London 28 August to Thomas Harwood Harper underwriter. Effects £419 3s.

Frank is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Birkenhead Civic Memorial,

Liverpool Presbytery, (Trinity Claughton)

Old Birkonians War Memorial, Birkenhead

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 33 Left

Birkenhead School Chapel

In 1917 his parents had moved to 24 Brancote Road, Birkenhead.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ the following tribute appeared:

“In honoured and treasured memory of my comrades, Corporal Fred Thomas, and Privates Howell Collett and Frank Harper (K.L.R.), killed in action, July 30, 1916. – “Nobby” 

His father travelled often to the United States on business. His parents visited New York in 1921, 1923 and, after his father's retirement, in 1927 made a long trip, visiting California, as well as Hawaii and Sydney, Australia.

His father retired at the end of 1926 after 50 years with the Thames & Mersey Marine Insurance Co. and was Chairman of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. He later served as Chairman of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for a number of years.

In 1939 at the outbreak of WW2, his parents were still at 24 Brancote Road, Birkenhead with a domestic servant. His father was 78 and his mother 74.

They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1941 and lived to see  the end of the Second World War. 

His father died in October 1945, aged 83, leaving over £184,000.  His mother lived to the age of 87 and died in 1952.

We currently have no further information on Frank Foster Harper, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.