Current Information:

Age-19

120, Hornsey Park Road, Hornsey

Etretat Churchyard, France

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers battalion were in India but they soon returned home where they joined 84 Brigade of 28th Division. In late January, 1915, 28th Division arrived in France and being a regular division they were quickly put into the trenches in water-logged positions south of Ypres near St. Eloi and Oosthoek. It was a far cry from the warmth of India and there were many cases of sickness and frostbite.

At 4pm on 20th February, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers left their billets in Kruisstaat and moved to a large wood near La Chapelle Farm from where, shortly after midnight, along with the 2nd Cheshire battalion, they attacked two lost trenches which were now protected by an abattis, a fortification consisting of the branches of trees laid in a row, with the sharpened tops and tied together with wire. They managed to get through this but then as they charged were hit by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Twice they attempted this but the leading ranks were practically wiped out while doing so and after suffering over one hundred casualties they withdrew back to Kruisstaat. Frank Tanner died from wounds on 28th February, 1915, after having been sent to a base hospital on the coast and may have been one of those wounded during this operation.