Lieutenant William Thomas Frodsham

Family details:
Next-of-kin from MIC: Captain F.J. Frodsham (brother) 33 Cowley Hill Lane, St Helens.

Census details:
1891 - 2 years old William T is living at 52 Ellamsbridge Road, Sutton, St Helens with parents Thomas (26), Elizabeth (30) and sister Gertrude A (11 mths), Also at the address are servant Ann Doon (22) and nurse Mary Ann Cheetham (16). 1901 - 12 years old William is living at 143 Robins Lane, Sutton, St Helens with parents Thomas (36), Elizabeth (39) and three siblings: Elizabeth (9), Frederick J (6), Gertrude A (3). Servant Jane Litherland (14) is also at the address. 1911 - Not found.

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=24]Remembered on The West Park Memorial in St Georges Chapel, Ypres.[/url] [url=lmem.php?lmem=26]Remembered on the West Park Old Boys Memorial[/url] [url=lmem.php?lmem=6]Remebered Remembered On The Grange Park Golf Club Memorial[/url] Age taken from memorial.

William Frodsham was commissioned to the 5th (Territorial) Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment as a Second Lieutenant on 9th November 1914. He arrived in France with the battalion on 8th May 1915. The battalion was billeted at Forceville in mid-Jul to early August, when it moved to trenches in the Auchonvillers section. They remained there, with rest billets at Maillly-Maillet, until 29th October when they retired to Bertencourt for training and work party assignment. The casualties suffered in this period were a result of the intermittent artillery and mortar fire, as well as constant sniping. The Regimental history does not record details of any significant actions for the remainder of 1915 and into the spring and early summer of 1916. Although the Battle of the Somme had commenced on 1st July, the battalion, part of 55th Division, was only engaged with active patrolling and sniping. On 22nd July, they received orders to move south and on the 25th, they arrived at billets inn Ville-sous-Corbie. On 8th August, the battalion was ordered to capture the village of Guillemont, which had defied all previous attempts at capture and was a thorn in the side of the British forces. The attack commenced at 4.20 a.m. and initially all objectives were taken despite strong resistance. By the end of the day, the Railway Station and the front line trenches in front of the village were in allied hands. Orders were then received to be ready to continue the attack the following morning. Zero hour was again at 4.20 a.m. and the initial assault was met with withering machine gun fire from the German defenders, resulting in the troops falling back to their starting points. This also resulted in the companies being heavily mixed up and it was noon before reorganisation was complete. After this, the battalion remained near Trones Wood until the 10th, clearing the dead of the previous two days of battle and consolidating the ground won at such a heavy cost. On the evening of the 10th, they were withdrawn to bivouac and then on the 12th returned to the line at Maltz Horn Farm. On the 13th, 'D' Company of the battalion worked in partnership with French units to clear German forces from an area known as Cochrane Alley, specifically to take an isolated German trench. Unfortunately, the French failed to take their objectives and the British attack came under withering German machine gun fire, which drove the men back. The battalion was withdrawn on the 15th, this time to billets at Meulte. In three days of fighting they had lost 3 officers and 80 other ranks - slight losses in comparison to other units at that time. They remained out of the line until 5th September when they were sent to occupy support trenches in front of Delville Wood. This was a notoriously 'unhealthy' place to be at that time and the battalion was kept busy digging strong points and communications trenches, usually under heavy enemy artillery fire. On the 9th the battalion was sent up to the front trenches on the German side of the wood, and that afternoon an attack on Ale and Hop alleys took place. Unfortunately, the attack was unsuccessful and the Germans counter-attacked, almost breaking through the British lines. At night, the situation was still obscure and contact with the troops of the 1654th Brigade had been lost. The regimental history does not note the number of casualties, but CWGC records show that 3 officers and 12 other ranks of the battalion were lost on the 9th September, including William Frodsham. The Battalion War Diary for the period around William Frodsham's death is reproduced below. Sept 7 Btn out at night digging Strong Points 300 in advance of front line trenches held by 1/5 Loyal North Lancs Regt. Four Strong Points dug and Communication Trench from original front line to Right Strong Point. Casualties 4 Officers 40 O Ranks. Sept 8 Strong Points were garrisoned by 1 Officer and 20 O.R. and Communication Trench held by 2 Officers and 60 O.R. About 10am an enemy 5.9 Battery heavily enfiladed near Communication Trench and badly damaged it. During the night Strong Points were completed and connected up under very accurate sniping fire in spite of this work was well done and fully completed. Casualties 4 Officers 45 O.R. Sept 9 After completion of digging, relieved 1/5 Loyal North Lancs Regt and completed relief by 5am. 164 Bde attacked ALE and HOP ALLEY on our right at 4.45pm. Attack failed and enemy pressed our Barricade NE Corner of DELVILLE WOOD. 'C' Coy sent up from support and barricade held. During the night Patrols were unable to get touch along E edge of WOOD with 164 Bde position not clear as enemy were reported to be bombing their way through E side of WOOD. His medals were applied for, and sent to, his brother, Captain Frederick John Frodsham who had also served with the South Lancashire Regiment. (Stephen Nulty) [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/FrodshamW.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/Frodsham_WT_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Newspaper & Advertiser - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Lt_William_T_Frodsham_zpsa138cd7a.png[/pic][caption]De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Frodsham_WT_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The headstone of Lieutenant William Thomas Frodsham at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval (Photo courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/William_Thomas_Frodsham.jpg[/pic] [caption]A dedication for Lieutenant William Thomas Frdsham at Sutton St Annes Churchyard. [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/William_Thomas_Frodsham_Memorial.jpg[/pic] [caption]Inscription on memorial. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_ext/LoweHouseMem5.jpg[/pic] [caption]William is remembered on the [url=lmem.php?lmem=10]Lowe House Memorial[/url][/caption]