23251 Pte Frank Rance, 7th Battalion, Border Regt

23251 Private Frank Rance was one of five 7th Battalion, Border Regiment other ranks to die on this day, 6th August, 1916. Four of the men, including Frank, were killed in action whilst the fifth died of wounds.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that Frank was the son of Charles and Daisy Rance of 1 Queen's Road, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire whilst Soldiers Died in The Great War records that he was born in Berkhamstead and was living there when he joined up. His place of enlistment though, is given as Bedford.

Frank Rance came from a large family. The 1901 census lists eleven members headed by his father, 44 year old Charles Rance, a general labourer, and his wife Mary aged 43. In age order their children are recorded as follows: Ada Rance (18), Harry Rance (16) and William Rance (14) both working as errand boys; Lily Rance (12), Bertie Rance (10), Frank (aged eight), Amy Rance (aged six), Alice Rance (aged four), and finally Horace Rance (aged two).

Frank originally joined the 7th Norfolk Regiment and was given the army service number 12144. This ties his joining date down to the first couple of weeks of August 1914 and so he was an early and willing Kitchener volunteer. He sailed for France with the 7th Norfolks, arriving there just in time to qualify for the 1914-15 Star on 30th December 1915. Whilst in France, I'm guessing, he transferred to the Border Regiment and whilst I'm not sure of the precise date of this transfer, I'm guessing that it would have been pretty soon after he arrived. Further research is necessary to determine the exact date. Of his three medals though, the 1914-15 Star bears his Norfolk Regiment details, whilst the British War and Victory Medals carry the Border Regiment information.

Frank Rance was 24 years old when he died. He has no known grave and is one of over 72,000 men commemorated by name on the massive Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The photo on this post shows the Thiepval Memorial under construction in 1930. It would be unveiled in 1932. Photo courtesy of Australians on the Western Front 1914-1918.