Robert James Brownlaw Frank
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Regiment: | Royal Sussex Regiment, 1/4th Batallion |
| Country: | Egypt |
| Cemetary/Memorial: | El-Qantarah el-Sharqiyya, Al Isma'iliyah, Egypt (Plot B 45) |
| Awards: | British War Medal Victory Medal |
Born on 19th July 1887 in Worthing, West Sussex, Lieutenant Frank was killed in action on 6th June 1916, aged 28.
He was the son of Robert John Frank (1854-1924) and Lucy Maud Frank (nee Lambart, 1860-1934), of Jolesfield House, Partridge Green, Sussex. They lived there from 1900 until 1920 and were great patrons of St Michael’s Church and Jolesfield School.
Robert had two brothers, John Hayston Caulfield Lambart (1885-1980) and William O’Bryen Granville (1888-1950). He also had a sister, Violet Mary Anna (1884-1936). Another sister, Beatrice Lucy Maud (1882-1883), died in infancy.
Following in John’s footsteps, Frank and his younger brother William started at Saint Ronan’s in 1897.
In 1899 Robert came 2nd in the 3rd division Catechism prize, in 1900 he won the Class II French prize and in 1901, just before he left, he won the Class IB prizes for Classics, English and Mathematics.
In the Spring term of 1901 he was appointed as a Prefect. He was a member of the 2nd IX Football team where he played as a back and of his Cricketing skills it was said “A better bat than his runs imply. Slow, but fairly sure in the field”
William and Robert left Saint Ronan’s in 1901. Joining their older brother, John, at Haileybury College. Robert was in Edmonstone House from 1901 until his departure in 1904.
On joining the Army he was originally in the Territorial Force before joining the same regiment as his younger brother.
He joined 1st/4th Batallion in 1912 and served at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, until the Regiment was evacuated in January 1916. In March 1913 he is recorded as a Second Lieutenant, and in 1916 as Lieutenant.
Both of Robert’s brothers served and survived the War - John as a Lieutenant in the Legion of Frontiersmen, Saskatchchewan, Canada (having served in the Territorial Army), and William, like Robert, as a Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex.
He is commemorated on the 'Old Comrades' Memorial, West Grinstead. There is also a brass memorial to him at Saint Michael and All Angels, Partridge Green:
4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Third son of Robert John and Lucy Maud Frank,
who gave his life for his God, King and Country at Ismalia, Egypt on 6th June 1916 aged 28, having served all through the Suvla Bay operations.
“Greater love hath no man than this that a man should lay down his life for his friends."
He is also remembered at Saint George's Church, West Grinstead on a brass plaque located in the bell ringing area which reads:
4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. A Bell ringer in this church who gave his life
for his God, King and Country 6th June 1916.”
Below is an extract from a letter written in 1915 by Lieutenant Frank just before he left England with his regiment. The letter was sent to Harry Turrell, captain of the bellringers at Saint George’s church, where Robert was also a ringer.
“15th July 1915
Dear Turrell
I thought I would like to write and tell you we were leaving here tomorrow night and leave England the next day.
We are going to the Mediterranean and although we do not know where we are going exactly it is most probably the Dardanelles.
We are tremendously busy and have had very little time to get ready.
Mr Campion is going as our Chaplin, he has joined us from the Yeomanry, which is nice.
I wonder how the ringing is getting on, I shall look forward to the time when we all meet again in the belfry at West Grinstead to ring a peal to celebrate our Victory and Peace.
I wonder how Lark is and where he is now. [‘Lark’ was Harry’s son, he died in action on 28th September 1918].
I must end as I have a lot of work to do yet.
If you write to me, say in about a fortnight’s time, address to
Lieutenant R J B Frank
1/4th Batt: Royal Sussex Regt: 160 Brigade
53rd Welsh Division
British Expeditionary Force Mediterranean.
It is better to put in one’s rank as it makes it more certain of getting it.
Good bye till we meet again.
Yrs Very Truly
Robert J B Frank”
He never made it back to ring that victory peal.
An extract from a letter written by Reverend Fred Campion (the Rector of West Grinstead at that time) in a 1916 parish magazine gives us further insight into what sort of person Lieutenant Frank was:
‘I must say a word about my dear brother officer and friend “Bob” Frank. It was my privilege to be with him through the strenuous fighting at Sulva Bay.
A simple courteous pure English gentleman without any “swank” he just did his duty bravely and conscientiously. He was often far from well and but for his spirit would have been invalided home. FHC.’
In the following month’s magazine:
‘On June 12th, a memorial service was held at 11am at St Michael’s for the late Lieutenant Robert Frank.
A large congregation was present, all anxious to show their respect and esteem for one who had fallen in his devotion to duty and country, and also their sympathy with the bereaved family in their sorrow.
Mr and Mrs Frank have received many signs from the village to show how deeply the people feel for them and in what high esteem their son was held.”
He was also remembered at the Tower of London “Rivers of Blood” memorial, when his name was read as part of a dedication on Remembrance Day, 11th November 2014.
