Gnr
Frank Oakley Dye
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Pilsley, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Pit Pony Driver - Coal Mine |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Gunner |
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Service number: L/42697 |
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Enlistment place: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Field Artillery, 402nd Bty. 5th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 08/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Potijze Château, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Canada Farm Cemetery Plot: II Row: B Grave: 29 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 23/02/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 23/02/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Gunner Frank Oakley Dye served in the 402nd Battery, of the Royal Field Artillery 5th Army Brigade, which participated in the Third Battle of Ypres.
At the start of the offensive on the 31st of July 1917 all Batteries of the Brigade were still in Northern France near the town of St Omer. From September 1916 onward the 5th Brigade RFA had served with the 4th Canadian Division in France. But in July 1917 the artillery unit was transformed into an Army Brigade and moved to Flanders where it was to support the Second Army at Ypres.
Any official military documents of the whereabouts of the 5th Army Brigade RFA in August 1917 are missing. However we do know that the Brigade arrived at the Ypres front in August 1917 and that it’s guns were positioned near the Potijze Château Grounds in September 1917. Where its Batteries were engaged in shelling German Batteries, positions and supply lines. But the German artillery was equally on its toes and the Batteries and supply lines of the RFA 5th Army Brigade were frequently shelled.
Gunner Frank Oakley Dye was mortally wounded on the 8th of August 1917, possibly due to German counter-shelling while being stationed near the Potijze Château. He was evacuated to Canada Farm, which at the time was used as a dressing station. He succumbed to his wounds and was buried on the adjacent Canada Farm Cemetery.
At the start of the offensive on the 31st of July 1917 all Batteries of the Brigade were still in Northern France near the town of St Omer. From September 1916 onward the 5th Brigade RFA had served with the 4th Canadian Division in France. But in July 1917 the artillery unit was transformed into an Army Brigade and moved to Flanders where it was to support the Second Army at Ypres.
Any official military documents of the whereabouts of the 5th Army Brigade RFA in August 1917 are missing. However we do know that the Brigade arrived at the Ypres front in August 1917 and that it’s guns were positioned near the Potijze Château Grounds in September 1917. Where its Batteries were engaged in shelling German Batteries, positions and supply lines. But the German artillery was equally on its toes and the Batteries and supply lines of the RFA 5th Army Brigade were frequently shelled.
Gunner Frank Oakley Dye was mortally wounded on the 8th of August 1917, possibly due to German counter-shelling while being stationed near the Potijze Château. He was evacuated to Canada Farm, which at the time was used as a dressing station. He succumbed to his wounds and was buried on the adjacent Canada Farm Cemetery.
Sources 5
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Ancestry http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/435624/dye,-frank/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary 5th Army Brigade RFA http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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War Diary 5th Army Brigade RFA http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/arch Sources used |