2nd Lieut Frank Ashton Lane

• Age: 21
• From: Clapham Common, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Frank Ashton Lane was born at Staines, Middlesex in 1896 the son of George and Alice Sarah (nee Alder) Lane of 53 Wroughton Road, Clapham Common, London. He was baptised on the 7th June 1896 in Feltham. Parents were married on the 29th October 1881 in Feltham.

He trained at Peterhouse College as a Cadet.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Victoria Road, Village, Feltham, Staines, Middlesex.

The father George aged 32, born 1869 is a school master who was born in Feltham, Midlesex. His wife Alice Sarah is aged 37, born 1864 no occupation listed and was also born in Feltham as were their three children, Winifred aged 8, born 1893, Frank Ashton aged 4, born 1897 and Edith aged 3, born 1898. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 12 Kyrle Road, Clapham Common.

Father George is aged 42, a school master, wife Alice Sarah is aged 47(married 19 years 3 children), Winifred aged 18 a student, Frank Ashton aged 14 at school, and Edith aged 13 at school.

Bayswater Chronicle 10th August 1912

TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

The following awards have been made: Scholarships have been awarded to ... Frank Ashton Lane,...

 

Frank enlisted on 9th September 1914 joining the Royal Fusiliers as Private 408 17th Royal Fusilier, Empire Battalion, Trench Mortar Battery. He served in France from June 1917.

Second Lieutenant Lane is first mentioned in the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regimental War Diary three days before his death, when, on 28th July 1917, he and a brother Officer, Second-Lieutenant WG Graham made a reconnaissance of assembly position’s, and placed Trench stores in them in readiness for the forthcoming attack.

On the day of his death, 31st July 1917 a, the Battalion was to form up in Sanctuary Wood for the attack ten minutes before Zero Hour, which was 04.00am. However, it was very dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. And as a result, No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy and were for a time, held up against a strong point until the German defenders withdrew. An attempt was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered. This party was led by Captain Heywood MC, but once he had been wounded, the advance came to a halt.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officers had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By this time, the situation had become completely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to the Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them. Casualties assessed at the time were fourteen officers and two hundred and fifty other ranks, and it was subsequently established that seven officers and seventy six other ranks were had been killed. Second Lieutenant Lane was one of them aged 21 years.

His body was not found and identified after the war, and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing of the Salient at Ypres. 

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

South Western Star 17th August 1917

SECOND LIEUT. F. A. LANE.

Second Lieut. Frank A .Lane, King's Liverpool Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lane, 53 Wroughton-road, Clapham Common, was killed in action in Flanders on July 31. He was 21 years of age. He was educated at Lavender Hill School and Emanuel School, Wandsworth Common. At the outbreak of war he joined the Empire Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and went to France in November, 1915. Here he served in the Trench Mortar Battery at Vimy Ridge, Bully Grenet, Festubert, Delville Wood, and Beaumont Hamel, From this last [operation] he was recommended for a commission in November, 1916, and went as a Cadet to Peterhouse College, Cambridge. Here his great musical abilities were appreciated, and he played violin solos and took part in chamber music at most of the concerts of the Cambridge University Musical Club. After receiving his commission he went to France on June 22, 1917. His commanding officer writes: "We had found him a very capable and keen officer. and he showed great bravery in the attack. I hear on all sides from his men what a fine fellow he was. He volunteered before the action to go up and make arrangements for the battalion in their assembling position, and asked me another time if he could go up and do anything."

Soldiers Effects to father George, Pension record has no award.

The mother Alice died aged 62 in 1926.

Grateful thanks are extended to Dave Bohl and Charles Fair of the Great War Forum for the photograph of Frank. 

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