Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Underwood. The War Diary entry for the 3rd October 1915 records. BIENVILLERS. About 11.00am the enemy put some shrapnel over Group 2 fire trenches, killing two and wounding four men. During the night Officer Commanding “A” Company at present in billets reported that one of his Sergeants had been shot while on guard duty on the BIENVILLERS – MONCHY ROAD. It appears that the man went to a latrine in an orchard close by and heard something moving in the grass. He asked who it was, and the reply was a shot from a rifle close to him. A patrol under Captain BOUCHER went out afterwards, but found nothing.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 15th, 1915

Two Whitwick Soldiers Killed - Memorial Service at Holy Cross Church.

To the roll of honour has to be added the names of two more Whitwick soldiers – Ptes. Frank Underwood and James Cairns.

Underwood is the son of Mr Jno. Underwood, of Pare’s Hill, Whitwick, and news that he has been killed in action in France was received in letters received a day or so ago from his lieutenant and the chaplain who officiated at the funeral service. The deceased soldier was in the 8th Leicesters, having joined Kitchener’s Army soon after the outbreak of war. He was a single man, and formerly worked at the Forest Rock Quarry, Whitwick. His brother Jack is also in the army serving in France.

Pte. Cairns was in the Connaught Rangers, and was killed in action in the Dardanelles on August 21st, though the news was only recently to hand. He left Whitwick before the war broke out to reside in Yorkshire, where he had obtained work. He was 27 years of age, a native of Whitwick, and as a boy attended the Holy Cross School, later working at the Whitwick Colliery. He leaves a widow, a Whitwick woman (nee Newell), and three children, and he has two brothers doing their bit ‘somewhere in France’.

A memorial service for Cairns was held at the Whitwick Holy Cross Church on Sunday evening, when there was a large congregation. The requiem service was conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly and Father Commons, professor of Ratcliffe College, preached an impressive sermon and gave the benediction. The members of the Whitwick and Thringstone Citizen Corps were present and also the Whitwick Boy Scouts. Four soldiers, with reversed arms, were guards of the catafalque. After the requiem service, the organist, Mrs Carter, played the Dead March, and one of the Boy Scout buglers sounded the “Last Post.” The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

A memorial service for Pte. Underwood is to be held at the Whitwick Parish Church on Sunday next.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 5th, 1915

Whitwick Soldier dies from wounds - Letters from Officer and Chaplain

Mr Underwood, of Pare’s Hill, Whitwick, has received a letter from Lord Kitchener expressing the sympathy of the King and Queen with him on the death of his son, Lance-Corpl. F. Underwood, of the 9th Leicesters, resulting from wounds received in action.

The chaplain, R. N. Shelton, writes that he buried the deceased who died from wounds received in the trenches. He adds, “I did my best to comfort and cheer him in his last moments. Everything was done for him that could be done and he passed peacefully away on Sunday evening (October 3rd) at 9 pm. My sincere love and sympathy is with you in your trouble and bereavement. May God comfort and bless you.”

Another letter received is from 2nd Lieut. H. S. Rosen, who says, “It is with the utmost regret that I have to inform you that your son was killed in action on October 3rd. He was on duty in the trenches when a shrapnel shell suddenly burst near him, inflicting a severe wound in his head, which resulted in his death shortly after reaching his dressing station. I feel his loss very keenly, and he was not only a thoroughly good soldier but an excellent worker and he had recently been mentioned in the company commander’s report to the Colonel for especially good work in helping to repair a trench destroyed by an enemy trench mortar bomb, in which he showed exceptional coolness and energy. He will be sadly missed, not only by myself and my platoon, but also by the regiment as a whole. I should like to convey to you the heart-felt sympathy of the company officers and your son’s comrades in your sad bereavement.”

An impressive memorial service was held at the Whitwick Parish Church on Sunday for Lance-Corpl. Frank Underwood, of Pare’s Hill, Whitwick, recently killed in action. The Vicar (the Rev. T. W. Walters, M.A.) preached to a good congregation which included the members of the Whitwick and Thringstone Citizen Corps under Commander G. F. Burton, and the Boy Scouts. The organist (Mr R. West) played Chopin’s Funeral March at the commencement and the Dead March at the close, when the National Anthem was also sung and Scout Richards (bugler) sounded the “Last Post.” Muffled peals were rung on the bells.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 10/09/2017