Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 7th, 1916
THORNTON SOLDIER KILLED
Private Frank Mee, of the Leicestershire Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Mee, of Thornton, was killed in action in France by a shell on February 3rd. He formerly worked at the Desford No. 1 pit, and enlisted on the outbreak of war. Further particulars and a photo will appear in our next issue.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 14th, 1916
THORNTON SOLDIER KILLED
Private Frank Mee, Leicestershire Regiment, who was killed by shellfire in France. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Mee, of Thornton, and worked at the Desford Colliery, No. 1 pit. Before he enlisted at the outbreak of the war, being greatly respected by all his fellow workers. The following is a copy of a letter from Lieutenant J. B. Breacher, officer commanding machine-gun section.
“Dear Mr Mee, - I regret very sincerely to have to announce the death of your son, Frank. He was killed by the explosion of a shell during the bombardments of our billets this afternoon. Fortunately, I was on the spot when he died, and I am glad to say that his was a merciful end, to which there was no pain attached. He is all the more loss to me, since he was such a good honest fellow. There is no doubt that his loss will be greatly felt by all his pals to whom he was an example of all that is good and upright. I sympathise greatly with you in your sad loss, and though he is a true example of the saying that “Those whom the gods love die young.” I trust that one day we shall simply avenge his end.”
The chaplain wrote as follows:
“Dear Mr Mee, - I feel I must just write you a line to tell you how we all sympathise with you in your great loss. You will be comforted to know that your poor boy lived quite a short time, and did not suffer in the least. I buried him in our little churchyard here and the Colonel was present to pay his last respects. You may be sure that I shall take care to see that his grave is well cared for and looked after. I think we have the prettiest and neatest little cemetery for many miles along this front. We prayed for you and yours in my little church here on Sunday, and I pray daily that the presence of Christ himself may uplift you in your hour of sorrow. – Yours truly, E. P. Woolcombe, chaplain.”
A chum who enlisted with Mee from Thornton, writes:
“Dear Mrs Mee, - I am writing a few lines to you to tell you some sad news. Perhaps you have heard it before you get this letter. I hope you have for one thing, because then it will not be my letter that gives you the blow. The Germans bombarded our village heavily yesterday, and we had some casualties. It is a bad blow, and I hope you will try to bear it bravely; at least, I can assure you that you are the mother of a very brave soldier. Frank was standing outside his billet, when a shell came and killed one and wounded another, and I regret to say that poor Frank was the former. It was a bad blow to me when I heard it was an old friend so I know that you will feel it deeply. I had the luck to escape it all, but I cannot say I am safe. I may have missed that even to get one later on, it is all the matters of war. I ask you to bear up as much as possible and also to accept my deepest sympathy. – I remain, yours sincerely, Private William Hares.”

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 13/10/2017

Coalville Times article - Friday October 22nd, 1920
THORNTON
WAR MEMORIAL
A memorial tablet in honour of the Thornton men who served during the war has been erected in Thornton Council School, and was unveiled on Saturday last. It is composed of grey granite, with a bronze border on the top and at the sides, measures 5ft by 2ft, and contains the names of
T. H. Brown, J. Clarke, H. B. Cooper, A. H. de Ville, J. W. Farmer, B. Garfield, F. Mee, W. A. Poole and A. Unwin, who died in action.
The service was conducted by the Rev. J. Horn (Wesleyan minister), who read the lesson, the Rev. E. G. Garnham (Baptist minister) who gave an appropriate address, and the Rev. R. Pratt (the Vicar), who read the prayers. After the memorial had been unveiled by the schoolmaster, the Thornton Brass Band played the Dead March (“Saul”) and at the close the bandmaster (Mr H. Bennett) sounded the “Last Post”, and the audience joined in singing the National Anthem. The cost of the memorial (£100) was raised by the Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Committee.
(Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 22/03/2020)

Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William and Mary Ann Mee. The War Diary for today records. 300 men for work parties. “D” Company in morning did Company platoon arm saluting drill, and practised fixing of smoke helmets. “D” Company in afternoon marched off with band to Divisional theatre. Men of “C” Company not on work parties fired on the range under Lt. WARNER. The same men practised the same work as “B” Company did in the morning. No. 16 platoon received grenade instruction in the morning and the new band was playing in the courtyard near canteen. The enemy heavily shelled the village for about ½ an hour, all troops and civilian inhabitants were ordered to caverns and caves. One shell fell and exploded near gateway of courtyard killing and wounding, several other men killed and wounded in other parts of the village. 20 were killed and 13 wounded. 3 of the latter died on admittance to Field Ambulance. 9 of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were killed in all, and 2 officers and 6 other ranks wounded. 1 ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS officer was killed, 7 other ranks of the ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and 1 ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. One civilian inhabitant was killed and one wounded. The Divisional Commander arrived in the village from the trenches shortly after the bombardment had ceased. Most parts of the village including the FRENCH quarter was shelled.