Rfn
Frank William Proudman
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1884 |
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Place of birth: Paddington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Manor Park, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: 43654 |
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Enlistment place: Holborn, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Irish Rifles, 13th Bn. (1st County Down) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 16/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Somme - Wiesengut, Saint-Julien, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 33 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: IV Row: B Grave: 2 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Frank William Proudman was born around 1884 in Paddington, Middlesex, near London. In October 1915, Frank married Wilhelmina Edith in the St Mary the Virgin Church in Little Ilford, Essex. The couple settled in nearby Manor Park.
Frank was swept up in the maelstrom of the First World War. He served on the Western Front, first with the London Regiment, and later with the 13th Battalion (1st County Down) of the Royal Irish Rifles, part of the 108th Brigade within the 36th (Ulster) Division.
On 16 August 1917, the 36th (Ulster) Division took up positions just south of the village of Sint-Juliaan. The division advanced with two brigades: the 109th Brigade on the left flank and the 108th Brigade on the right. To their right was the 16th (Irish) Division. The battalions of the 108th Brigade involved in the attack were the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 13th Royal Irish Rifles; the 12th Royal Irish Rifles were in support, and the 11th Royal Irish Rifles were in reserve.
At 4.45 a.m., the attack began. The 13th Royal Irish Rifles advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage but struggled to keep pace due to the marshy terrain. The battlefield was littered with waterlogged shell craters and flooded trenches. On top of these harsh conditions, the frontline troops came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from bunkers near Somme Farm. The men managed to pass Somme but could not capture it, forcing the companies to dig in nearby.
Support and reserves were sent forward to reinforce the attack, but their advance was severely hindered by machine-gun fire from Gallipoli, Hindu Cottage and Aisne Farm on the right, and from Pond Farm and again Hindu Cottage on the left. One hour after the start of the attack, the battalion withdrew to its original positions. The survivors were gathered, and with reinforcements from battalion headquarters, another attempt was made to take Somme — in vain. The attack was quickly broken up by intense German crossfire, and the troops again withdrew. The battalions of the 108th Brigade became scattered and intermixed along their original line. Officers reorganised the men and began strengthening the line. The next day, the 108th Brigade was relieved by the 107th Brigade.
The attack was a complete disaster. The two Irish divisions made virtually no noticeable progress. On 16 August, no further attacks were launched by the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Frank, aged 35, would miss out on a whole life. He was killed in action on 16 August 1917. He was initially buried near Somme. After the war, he was laid to rest at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot VII, Row G, Grave 16.
Frank was swept up in the maelstrom of the First World War. He served on the Western Front, first with the London Regiment, and later with the 13th Battalion (1st County Down) of the Royal Irish Rifles, part of the 108th Brigade within the 36th (Ulster) Division.
On 16 August 1917, the 36th (Ulster) Division took up positions just south of the village of Sint-Juliaan. The division advanced with two brigades: the 109th Brigade on the left flank and the 108th Brigade on the right. To their right was the 16th (Irish) Division. The battalions of the 108th Brigade involved in the attack were the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 13th Royal Irish Rifles; the 12th Royal Irish Rifles were in support, and the 11th Royal Irish Rifles were in reserve.
At 4.45 a.m., the attack began. The 13th Royal Irish Rifles advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage but struggled to keep pace due to the marshy terrain. The battlefield was littered with waterlogged shell craters and flooded trenches. On top of these harsh conditions, the frontline troops came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from bunkers near Somme Farm. The men managed to pass Somme but could not capture it, forcing the companies to dig in nearby.
Support and reserves were sent forward to reinforce the attack, but their advance was severely hindered by machine-gun fire from Gallipoli, Hindu Cottage and Aisne Farm on the right, and from Pond Farm and again Hindu Cottage on the left. One hour after the start of the attack, the battalion withdrew to its original positions. The survivors were gathered, and with reinforcements from battalion headquarters, another attempt was made to take Somme — in vain. The attack was quickly broken up by intense German crossfire, and the troops again withdrew. The battalions of the 108th Brigade became scattered and intermixed along their original line. Officers reorganised the men and began strengthening the line. The next day, the 108th Brigade was relieved by the 107th Brigade.
The attack was a complete disaster. The two Irish divisions made virtually no noticeable progress. On 16 August, no further attacks were launched by the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Frank, aged 35, would miss out on a whole life. He was killed in action on 16 August 1917. He was initially buried near Somme. After the war, he was laid to rest at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot VII, Row G, Grave 16.
Sources 4
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO364). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Essex Church of England Parish Registers (Essex Record Office, Chelmsford (ERO)). https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018) 52-55. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464342 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b717e857-a973-4054-b1b4-730b0531c2ef |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3612484 |