Corporal Frank AUSTIN
2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 13116
Queens Own Royal West Surrey Regiment 84859
Frank was born on 10 April 1897 in Third Turn, Spratton (now Smith Street) the son of Fred Austin, a shoemaker, and his wife Annie. The Austins were a long-established family in Spratton. When he was 13 Frank, a stable boy, was confirmed in St Luke's Church (now known as St Andrew's Church). Like his older brother William, he quickly volunteered for service when war was declared in 1914 and the following year was sent to the Western Front with the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Aged only 18 years, he was wounded at the Battle of Auber's Ridge on 9 May 1915 when so many of his comrades were killed. He was wounded again on 26 October 1915 and was sent to a hospital at Sheerness.
In March 1916 he returned to France but was wounded for a third time at the Battle of St Eloi Craters, near Ypres. Again he was returned to England, but this time he stayed on home service (probably with the 3rd Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment) until he was demobbed in 1920. Frank was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died in Northampton in December 1975 aged 78.
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Fred Austin's house in Third Turn, Spratton with his shoemaking premises in the foreground. Frank Austin was born here
Fred Austin's house in Third Turn, Spratton with his shoemaking premises in the foreground. Frank Austin was born here
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS