DODD F

DODD, Frank

Regiment: 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment

Rank: Bandsman

Number: 1684

Died: 4 September 1916

Aged: 23

Buried/ Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, France

Address: 122 Faulkner Street, Hoole

Chester Chronicle 23 September 1916

CHESTER DRUMMER KILLED

“Information has been received of the death in action of drummer Frank Dodd, of Faulkner Street, Hoole, who was serving in the Cheshire Regt. Drummer Dodd had been in the local Territorial band for a considerable time previous to the war. He was employed before mobilisation at the Great Western sheds.

He was a member of the Bible Class at All Saints, and before joining the Territorials, a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade. He had been at the front nearly 2 months.

The following letter has been received from Drummer FJ Ellison, Cheshire Regt.:- Dear Mr and Mrs Dodd,- it is with deepest regret I write these few lines to convey the worst news of all to have to send from these parts. A week today the drummers were called out to carry water up to the trenches to the boys who had driven the Huns back during the day, and were badly in need of a drink. We arrived in the lines at 8 o’clock in the evening, and were sitting grouped together on the slopes of a valley when a shell burst close by, and one of the fragments caught your son, which I am sorry to say, was the cause of his death. It may be a great consolation to you and the family to know he suffered no pain, as he was unconscious the few minutes he lived after being struck. All the drummers send their deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement. May God give you strength to bear the suffering it will cause. We all feel the loss very much, as he was a splendid companion, one of the best, and will be missed very much. Please express my deepest sympathy also to his fiancée. I have a few things safe in my keeping which I hope to be able to send when I get a good chance.- with deepest regret, I remain, his pal, FJ Ellison.”

The 1911 Census shows Frank as an 18-year-old shop assistant, living at 122 Faulkner Street Hoole with his father Frank, mother Ada, brothers Arthur and George and sister Doris.