Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Frank Eales was born at Burnhope, County Durham in 1883, one of 10 and the eldest of 6 surviving children 2 sons and 4 daughters. His father George Eales born 1856 at Sweardale, Yorkshire married Margaret Jane Webster native of Sherburn, County Durham born 1860, in the district of Stockton in 1875 and worked all his life as a coal miner. Moving from Burnhope to Close Row, Framwellgate Moor, near Durham, Frank in 1901 aged 18 years also worked at the colliery below ground as a putter. Frank married in the district of Durham in 1902 to Dorothea Grant (also known as Dora and Dorothy), native of Pity Me, born 1884, with whom he had two children Christopher born 1903 and Margaret Jane in 1906 at Framwellgate Moor.
Whilst living at Felling, near Gateshead, County Durham, he enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne initially assigned to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 23666, and after initial training he was drafted to France with his battalion October 21st 1915 joining his regiment in Belgium on the salient. June 1916, they were moved south to Arras and by August to the Somme where they joined the fighting to clear Delville Wood and in September attacked Gird trenches sustaining heavy losses. April 9th 1917 the regiment saw action on the opening day of the Battle of Arras, crossing the Hindenburg Line and advancing over a mile, their finest achievement of the war. Back on the salient in Belgium by August 1917 for the Third Battle of Ypres, Menin Road and then by December in the front line at Passchendaele they again sustained heavy losses and by early 1918 with a shortage of replacements the 10th Battalion was disbanded and the men moved to new brigades and divisions. Private Eales was transferred to the 15th Battalion and March 21st 1918 when the German Army attacked again on the Somme as part of the 21st Division they were in reserve but rushed forward to the front to counter attack. They were driven back and during four days of fighting sustained heavy losses and in April yet more.
Private 23666 Frank Eales Durham Light Infantry was declared, “dead”, April 25th 1918 and was interred at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium, which was used during that period by the French 15th Hospital D’Evacuation, grave XXXII. H. 16. He was 35 years old.
His widow Dorothy received all monies due to him and a pension for herself and their two children along with his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 62, Ridley Street, Felling-on-Tyne, Gateshead, County Durham. She commissioned at the cost of 19 shillings 6 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “In Loving Memory Of My Dear Husband-Ever Remembered By His Dear Wife And Children”. Dorothy remarried in 1924 to George H. Taylor in the district of Durham, date and whereabouts of her death, unknown.
Due to the destruction of military records during the blitz of WW2 there is no available evidence that Frank’s brother Robert served during WW1, however he died in an accident at Sherburn Hill Colliery owned by Lambton Collieries Limited, whilst working as a putter, due to a fall, October 30th 1928, aged 31 years. He left a widow Bertha and a son Nicholas born in 1926. After probate his wife living at 8 Malvern Terrace, Gilesgate was awarded the sum of 176 pounds 5 shilling 6 pence, November 28th 1928. His wife died in 1965 aged 65 years, their son aged 68 years in 1994.
Frank and Robert’s father George Eales also died in 1928 aged 72 years, their mother Margaret Jane Eales nee Webster aged 80 years in 1940, both deaths registered in the district of Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Frank Eales is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, H92.04 and H92.07
