Pte 94238 Frank Dean

• Age: 31
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Frank Dean was born in March 1887 in Liverpool and was the son of John Henry and the late Ellen (nee Deighton) Dean, who married on the 19th Jan 1880 at St. Catherine, Edge Hill. John was a labourer of Byrom St, Ellen from Hawarden St.

Prior to enlisting Frank was employed as a railway carriage cleaner and was a member of the National Union of Railwaymen (Branch Liverpool 4) which he joined 17th August 1913.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Rokesmith Street, West Derby, Liverpool.

The father John aged 36, born 1855 is a railway platelayer and was born in Eastham, Cheshire. His wife Helen is aged 34, born 1857 in Cheshire and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census, Mary aged 10, born 1881 and George aged 8, born 1883 are both scholars, Frank aged 4, born 1887 and Lizzie aged 1, born 1890. Their children were all born in Liverpool.

His mother Ellen died in March 1897 aged 36 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 8 Rokesmith Street, West Derby, Liverpool.

The father John aged 50, born 1851 (1891 Census shows year of birth as 1855) is still employed as a railway platelayer. He now has six  children, Mary aged 20, no occupation listed, George aged 19, is employed as a railway goods porter, Frank aged 14, is a baker’s errand boy, Elizabeth (Lizzie) aged 12, has no occupation, Esther aged 9, born 1892, and Nellie aged 7, born 1894. They also have a boarder William Dobson a widower aged 47, born 1854 in Cheshire and he is employed as a corporation labourer.

Frank married Agnes Ada Williams at St Catherine's Church, Edge-Hill, Liverpool on 26th December 1910. They went on to have two children Nellie born March 1913 and Jessie born December 1917.

The 1911 Census shows Frank and his wife living at his father’s address at 23 Moorgate Street Edge Hill, Liverpool.

The father John aged 60, is still employed as a railway platelayer. He still has three daughters at home, Elizabeth (Lizzie) aged 21 is a char-woman, Esther aged 19, is a paper bag maker and Nellie aged 17 has no occupation listed. Frank is aged 23 and a railway carriage cleaner and his wife Agnes Ada is aged 21 with no occupation listed.  
 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was formerly 39600, East Lancashire Regiment and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 94238 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 31 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 8 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing"

Frank has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects to his widow Agnes Ada and pension to Agnes and her children Nellie and Jessie.

Frank is commemorated on the Liverpool Hall of Remembrance at Panel 6.

When daughter Jessie was baptised on 14th Oct 1917 at St Cyprian's they were living at 18 Byford St, Edge Hill, Frank was a railway lamp man.

His father died aged 68 in September 1920.

His widow Agnes Ada, dob 18th Oct 1889, appears on the 1939 register at 18 Byford St. with Jessie(Hulme) and Albert H. Williams(brother).

She died aged 72 on the 5th Nov 1961 at Sefton General Hospital, Probate 29th March 1962 to Nelly Lovelady. Effects £612 17s.

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