Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Robert Corbridge, an acetylene gas pump engine driver, born 1868 in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire and his wife Ellen Caroline Corbridge, (nee Odell, married in the 4th quarter of 1892 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Kempston, Bedfordshire and baptised on the 30th November 1862 in the Parish Church, Kempston. Frank was born on the 24th April 1897 in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire and was baptised on the 13th June 1897 in St. Margaret’s Church, Bilsthorpe, his siblings were, Nellie, born 1894 in Owston, Leicestershire and Henry, born 21st November 1898 in Babworth, Nottinghamshire, in March 1901 the family home was at Ranby Lodge, Babworth, Ranby, Nottinghamshire. In April 1911 Frank was employed on farm work and was residing in the family home at Harts Cottage, Halstead, Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire, together with his father, a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Henry and Percy, a schoolboy, born 26th April 1902 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
Frank attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War,) on the 29th November 1915 in Leicester. He gave his home address as Whatborough, Tilton, Leicester, his age as 20 years and 220 days and his trade or calling as farm labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, John Corbridge of Whatborough, Tilton, Leicestershire as his next of kin. He gave his religion as Church of England. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighed 122 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34½ inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 23444 on the 30/11/15. Posted to the 10th (2nd Reserve) Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 30/11/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the Persian Gulf on the 11/5/16. Embarked from Devonport aboard H.T. Llandovery Castle on the 14/5/16. Disembarked at Basra on the 13/6/16. Joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 3/7/16. Reported sick to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station on the 26/3/17. Admitted to 31st B.S. Hospital suffering from malaria on the 28/3/17. Discharged to the Convalescent Depot on the 29/3/17. Rejoined 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 26/4/17. Embarked from Basra on the 1/1/18. Disembarked in Suez, Egypt on the 20/1/18. Reported missing, in the field on the 17/4/18. Killed in action on the 17/4/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 30/11/15 – 13/5/16, 165 days. India, 14/5/16 – 1/1/18, 1 year 233 days. Voyage, 2/1/18 – 20/1/18, 19 days. Egypt, 21/1/18 – 17/4/18, 87 days. Total service, 2 years 140 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Frank’s sister Nellie Corbridge on the 6th September 1919, and was witnessed and signed by E. G. D. Palmer, Bart., D.L. and J.P. for Leicestershire, Withcote Hall, Oakham on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, John Corbridge of Whatborough, Tilton, Leicester. Mother of soldier, Ellen Caroline Corbridge of Whatborough, Tilton, Leicester. Full blood brothers of soldier, Harry Corbridge, age 20 of Whatborough, Tilton, Leicester. Percy Corbridge, age 18 of Whatborough, Tilton, Leicester. Full blood sister of soldier, Nellie Corbridge, age 25 of Whatborough, Tilton, Leicester. Frank’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 17 Apr-18 – At 04.45 one Officer and 40 men went out to post day picquet on BEDOUIN KNOLL. They encountered serious machine gun and rifle fire. Captain J. F. FERGUSON and four men reported missing. At 19.10 a search party of 2 B.V. and 38 B.O.R. proceeded to BEDOUIN KNOLL in search of missing officer and men – search fruitless. Patrol returned having seen nothing of the enemy.
The War Diary records; 18 Apr-18 – At 03.50 Clearing Patrol went out from V.28.a.4.1 together with Day Observation and covering parties, and found one N.C.O., No. 23773 L/C G. T. GRAY, 200 yards North of Observation Post, crawling towards our lines. He stated that Captain J. F. FERGUSON was wounded and taken Prisoner of War, and the following went out with the party and are missing – 23444 Pte. F. CORBRIDGE, 32603 Pte. B. W. HAYWOOD, 40574 Pte. A. BOOTH, 23292 Pte. G. YORK. From daylight to 09.00 enemy sniped our Observation Post at BEDOUIN KNOLL. At 17.00 they sent forward a patrol of 6 men who withdrew on being fired on. Much artillery activity about 120 rounds of 4.2 and 5.9 High Explosive were fired into our Sector. Four men wounded in left Sector by 4.2 High Explosive which fell on F.16 trench. Names of wounded – 20315 L/C J. HOLLINGSWORTH. 15535 L/C J. EYRE, 17970 Pte. E. DAVIS, 17510 Pte. J. SNEATH.
On Friday July 12th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. The following local names have appeared in the official casualty lists published during the past week: - From Wednesday’s list: - Killed. Leicestershire Regt. – Corbridge, 23444 F. (Tilton), previously reported missing.