Information about birth

Date of birth:
26/02/1892
Place of birth:
Elton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
3 Springside view, Elton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Profession:
Kleine pachter - crofter
Religion:
Church of England

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
33758
Enlistment place:
Bury, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Lancashire Fusiliers, 11th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
10/08/1917
Place of death:
Railway Dump, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
25

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: XLIV
Row: A
Grave: 36

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Frank Wroe was the son of Eliza and John Wroe. He was born on 26 February 1892 in Elton, Lancashire. Before the war he worked as a crofter and lived in Elton, Lancashire. Frank enlisted in the British army and was part of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (74th Brigade, 25th Division).

Frank was killed on 10 August 1917 during the capture of Westhoek, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The brigade took up positions that ran from Rabbit Villa to in front of Glencorse Wood, with the left flank of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers situated on the Ypres-Roulers railway line. The objective was to capture the hamlet of Westhoek. The attack started at 4.35am. Due to an unnecessary order to provide support to the 9th Battalion Loyal North Lancs, Frank's battalion suffered losses from artillery fire and snipers. In the morning there was persistent heavy German shelling. Consolidation was difficult. At 3.45pm, the right flank of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was hit by heavy shelling. In addition, there was also persistent sniper fire, including from the vicinity of Sexton House. In the evening, several German counterattacks were repelled. The losses of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers were 31 dead, 45 wounded and 8 missing.

Frank died at the age of 26. His body was found after the war near Railway Dump. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

Sources 3

11 Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2246/2).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 46-48.
Sources used

More information 3