Ashtead War Memorials - WWI - Pte Frank Footman
1st Bn, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

Frank was born in 1896 at Lambeth to George Footman, a printer-machine minder [born ca1853], and his wife Caroline [born ca 1857]. Amongst a number of siblings was an older brother, George [birth registered St Saviour 3/1886].

F Footman signed up for service with the Army, apparently lying about his age because in 1911 when he was enumerated in Weymouth Barracks he was stated to be 22, although about three years younger.

His Regiment remains to be identified but he was discharged to reserve only to be recalled to the colours, when forces were mobilised before WWI, to join 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry with a fresh Service number, 3/5180.

By 10 December 1914 he was in France with the 1st Battalion DCLI, one of the Regiment’s two battalions of regular soldiers, which had been incorporated in 14th Brigade, 5th Division, on 4 August 1914. Units from 5th Division arrived on the Somme at Ribemont and in August 1915 were in the vicinity of Fricourt.

Frank Footman’s death and burial in Point 110 Old Military Cemetery on 2 August 1915 was an isolated incident: his medal card is noted, starkly: “Drowned”. Possibly he had been one of those unfortunates who fell into a water-filled crater and were engulfed in mud.

In 1911 his brother, George, with a family, was in Epsom but they seem to have moved into Ashtead to take up residence at Connaught Villas, Gladstone Road, by 1914.

DCLI Museum:
https://cornwalls-regimentalmuseum.org/military/

text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this page please contact the editor
page added 18 Feb 2009: 28 Nov 17