LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Private Frank John Filkins
10 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
Town Memorial P3.R1.C3.
Taken, Not Given
Pte.Frank Filkins
10th Lancs Fusiliers
Neuvilly
Oct 12 1918
The Parish Magazine in the issue of November 1918 announcing the death of Frank Filkins gives his second Christian name is John and states that he was killed in action on 12 Oct 1918 (1).
There is a widely held view that in the autumn of 1918, the German Army was in a state of disintegration. This certainly could not have applied to the defenders of Neuvilly. With less than a month to run, It may have been one of the bitterest fights of the War. Let the War Diary of the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers tell the tale (2): –
10 October 1918
1130 'The formation of the Bn. was altered to platoons in artillery formation'.
It is noted that 'the distance covered was approximately 6 1/3 miles'.
1700 'An attack made on Neuvilly by West Yorks Regt but was not altogether successful'.
11th Oct 1918 'Bn. was standing by to relieve if necessary battalions of 51st Brigade'.
12th Oct 1918 (Frank Filkin's last)
'Bn. left to take up position south of Neuvilly'.
'Preparation to attack at 0500 hr'.
1130 'The formation of the Bn. was altered to platoons in artillery formation'.
It is noted that 'the distance covered was approximately 6 1/3 miles'.
1700 'An attack made on Neuvilly by West Yorks Regt but was not altogether successful'.
11th Oct 1918 'Bn. was standing by to relieve if necessary battalions of 51st Brigade'.
12th Oct 1918 (Frank Filkin's last)
'Bn. left to take up position south of Neuvilly'.
'Preparation to attack at 0500 hr'.
The next entries are best put it in the in the form of a précis:
'A', 'B' and 'C' Coys of the Lancashire
Fusiliers were to follow the Duke of Wellingtons and the West
Yorkshires, whilst 'D' Coy was with the Manchesters. However, the Dukes
did not manage to get their rear platoons over a river between them and
their objective before the Germans commenced shelling. Neither did 'A'
and 'C' Coys of the Fusiliers.
At 5.48, the O.C. of 'A' Coy was wounded and a 2nd. Lt. succeeded to the command.
At 5.50 'C' Coy cleared out nest of machine gunners and snipers whilst 10 minutes later,'A' Coy under new management started to clear the village.
The line between the two sides now ran through the village church!
By 8.30 at the cemetery was being 'mopped up'.
However, by noon 40 Officers and 45 ORs had been through the Regimental Aid Post.
Then at 12.50 the Germans infiltrated back into the village and at 15.00 hrs, they counter-attacked the Manchesters, to whom 'D' Coy was attached and regained the village.
The British came back, and retook that part of the village south of the river, where a line was held by the Fusiliers and the Dukes, named the INTERNATIONAL POST (Yorkshire and Lancashire). During the night this line was taken over by the Sherwood Foresters.
At 5.48, the O.C. of 'A' Coy was wounded and a 2nd. Lt. succeeded to the command.
At 5.50 'C' Coy cleared out nest of machine gunners and snipers whilst 10 minutes later,'A' Coy under new management started to clear the village.
The line between the two sides now ran through the village church!
By 8.30 at the cemetery was being 'mopped up'.
However, by noon 40 Officers and 45 ORs had been through the Regimental Aid Post.
Then at 12.50 the Germans infiltrated back into the village and at 15.00 hrs, they counter-attacked the Manchesters, to whom 'D' Coy was attached and regained the village.
The British came back, and retook that part of the village south of the river, where a line was held by the Fusiliers and the Dukes, named the INTERNATIONAL POST (Yorkshire and Lancashire). During the night this line was taken over by the Sherwood Foresters.
The Lancashire Fusiliers have gone into battle with a strength of 20 Officers and 558 ORs. It came out with a strength of 16 Officers and 364 ORs - Frank Filkins was not amongst them.
The casualties were:
Killed: Officers nil - ORs 33
Wounded: Officers 4 - ORs 134
Missing: Officers nil - ORs 15
Totals: Officers 4 - ORs 182
Wounded: Officers 4 - ORs 134
Missing: Officers nil - ORs 15
Totals: Officers 4 - ORs 182
About a third had been hit, though some of the injured were, thankfully, “walking wounded".
Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of Saint Mary and Saint Nicholas, Leatherhead issue of November 1918.
2. File W095–2012 Diary of 10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond.
Stop press
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Imperial War Museum)
Frank John Filkins: Born Epsom: Enlisted Kingston upon Thames (Leatherhead): No. 3169: Pte 10th Bn. Lancs Fusiliers: KIA France and Flanders 12.10.18
Further research
| Private FILKINS, F J Service Number 3169 Died 12/10/1918 Aged 30 10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Filkins, of 2, Railway Cottages, Leatherhead. Born at Ashtead, Surrey. Buried at NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Location: Nord, France Cemetery/memorial reference: B. 4. headstone image: via Find A Grave |
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Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 23 November 1918
THE ROLL OF HONOUR.
During the past week notifications have come hand further Leatherhead men who have made the great sacrifice in the war, which has happily now come to an end-with a glorious victory for the cause in which they had laid down their lives.
PTE. FRANK FILKINS. Mr. and Mrs. Filkins, of Railway Cottages, Kingston-road, Leatherhead. have heard that their son, Pte. Frank Filkins, of the Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action in France Oct. 12th. They have two other sons serving.
During the past week notifications have come hand further Leatherhead men who have made the great sacrifice in the war, which has happily now come to an end-with a glorious victory for the cause in which they had laid down their lives.
PTE. FRANK FILKINS. Mr. and Mrs. Filkins, of Railway Cottages, Kingston-road, Leatherhead. have heard that their son, Pte. Frank Filkins, of the Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action in France Oct. 12th. They have two other sons serving.
Leatherhead Parish Magazine - December 1918
The
following have given their lives for the Cause :—
Pte. Frank John Filkins, Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action, Oct. 12, 1918.
Pte. Frank John Filkins, Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action, Oct. 12, 1918.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 28 December
1918 ROLL OF HONOUR.
THE YEAR’S RECORD OF THE BRAVE FALLEN.
NOVEMBER
FILKINS, PTE. FRANK, Lancashire Fusiliers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Filkins, Railway Cottages, Kingston-road, Leatherhead.
THE YEAR’S RECORD OF THE BRAVE FALLEN.
NOVEMBER
FILKINS, PTE. FRANK, Lancashire Fusiliers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Filkins, Railway Cottages, Kingston-road, Leatherhead.
His life
He was born in 1887 in Ashtead and baptised 1 January 1888 at St John's, Egham, Surrey.His father was Henry Filkins, baptised 24 January 1864 at Egham, Surrey. He was a Railway Signalman (a Railway Porter at the time of Frank's Christening). He died in January 1953 aged 89.
His mother was Harriet Tigwell born 14 September 1860 and baptised 28 October 1860 at St Mary's, Mortlake, Surrey, the daughter of John Thomas and Mary Tigwell. She died in 1936 aged 76.
They married on 25 April 1886 at St Andrews, Fulham, London.
His siblings were Henry George b1887, David William b 1889, Sydney Alfred b 1893, Mabel Rosa Mary b 1894, Edith Harriet, Gertrude Ellen b 1898, and Herbert.
In 1911 the family home was at 1 & 2 Whittaker Cottages, Ashtead, Surrey.
After the war
His parents were at 2 Railway Cottages, Kingston Road, Leatherhead in 1918 and later at 131 Kingston Road, Leatherhead (this may have been a reordering of the house numbering). His father died in 1953 and his mother in 1936.Frank Filkins is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey in the Great War
the website editor
would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and any recollections of him
e.g. a photo of him, and any recollections of him
last updated 1 Aug 20