Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frank Edgar Glanville, a post office civil servant, born in the October quarter of 1853 in North Cerney, Gloucestershire and baptised on the 29th December 1853 in All Saint’s Church, North Cerney (son of John James Glanville, 1818-1887 and Elizabeth Prout, 1818-1856) and his wife Sarah Jane Glanville (nee Carnall, married on the 26th September 1881 in St. Mary’s Church, Barkby, Leicestershire), born in the October quarter of 1854 in Barkby (daughter of John Carnall and Elizabeth Ann Stevenson). Frank Edgar was born in the April quarter of 1888 in Leicester, his siblings were, Elizabeth Caroline, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1882 and baptised on the 17th December 1882 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester and Maud Louisa, born on the 28th April 1890 and baptised as Maude Louisa on the 22nd June 1890 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester, both siblings were born in Leicester, also residing with the family was a brother-in-law, John Stevenson Carnall, a temporary post office clerk, born in the April quarter of 1872 in Barkby and baptised on the 6th October 1872 in St. Mary’s Church, Barkby, in April 1891 the family home was at Belmont, Mere Road, St. Saviour’s, Leicester. In March 1901 Frank was residing in the family home at 65, Mere Road, Leicester, together with his father, a post office superintendent, his mother and siblings, Elizabeth a post office telegraphist, Maud and Eva Dorothy, born on the 1st December 1891 in Leicester and baptised on the 24th January 1892 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester. In 1911 Frank was absent from the family home at 25, Hilary Terrace, Stoke, Devonport, Devonshire, residing there was his father a postmaster, his mother and siblings, Maud and Eva, meanwhile, Frank was employed as a lithographic artist and was residing as a boarder at 7, Castlegate York.
Frank’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Bristol into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Gloucestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 22828.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Transferred. To Machine Gun Corps.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 13731.
Posted. To 99th Brigade Machine Gun Company.
Promoted. To Lance Corporal.
Promoted. To Corporal.
Promoted. To Sergeant.
Killed in action. In the Field. 27/7/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Frank nominated his father, Frank as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 26/27 Jul-16 – DELVILLE WOOD – Brigade operation order for attack on DELVILLE WOOD lost.
An extract of the order is as follows: -
Ref: MONTAUBAN TRENCH MAP 1/20000.
99th MACHINE GUN COMPANY Operation Order No.15 July 26th 1916.
[1] The 99th Infantry Brigade are attacking DELVILLE WOOD at 7.10am tomorrow.
[2] Artillery barrage commenced at 6.10am on 27th instant. And will last one hour before lifting on to German second line. Barrage of second line will last one hour and lift North of WOOD.
[3] 1st ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT are consolidating Battalion behind 23rd ROYAL FUSILIERS and 1st KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.
[4] No.1 Section will go over in support of the two centre Companies of 1st ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT.
No.2 Section in support of the right Company.
No.3 Section in support of the left Company.
No.4 Section in Reserve.
[5] Officer Commanding Company will be with the Reserve Section (No.4).
Operations as compiled from Section Commanders reports.
No.1 Section.
Went into action with “WILLOW” (1st KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS). One gun did not come into action, 3 guns were close together in the centre of the line held by 1st KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS. These guns fired approximately 17500 rounds Small Arms Ammunition. The Germans appeared in artillery formation and extended order and about 200 who came over from right were engaged. The whole of the Section came under very heavy shell fire both in wood and in reserve. Both enfilading and frontal.
No. 2 Section.
Went into action with “ASH” (1st ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT). One gun went into front line with 1st KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS, guarding the right flank. Engaged German reinforcements, firing 1500 rounds Small Arms Ammunition and 500 rounds in helping to repel bombing attack. Gun came out of action having no more ammunition. 2 guns stopped in support in trench in wood and did not fire, being in support. All guns came under very heavy shell fire.
No.3 Section.
Went into action with “BEECH” (23rd ROYAL FUSILIERS). Prior to reaching first German trench, were in touch with each other. One with “BEECH” guarding their left flank did not fire. 3 guns close together with 1st ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT. These latter fired about 600 round Small Arms Ammunition on the Germans who appeared to be alternately moving and or firing. All guns were under very heavy enfilading and frontal shell fire. Communication was impossible to maintain owing to the nature of the shell fire.
No.4 Section.
Were in Reserve. Received orders from Captain GRANT, Commanding, early on Thursday to move up into the front line and proceed on to the right flank. These guns kept up fire continually on the German reinforcements and counter-attacks. Guns likewise came under very heavy shell fire.
Remarks. Communication, ammunition and water supply appears to have been extremely difficult to keep up owing to the nature of the hostile fire.
The War Diary records: 28 Jul-18 CORBAY – Moved to CORBAY after the action, night 28/29.
Casualties from 26/7 – 31st/7.
27th Captain GRANT killed. Lieutenant CRAWFORD killed. 2nd Lieutenant HEAL wounded. 2nd Lieutenant MORITZ wounded. Other Ranks killed 13. Wounded 9.
28th 2nd Lieutenant FLETCHER-BARRETT wounded. 2nd Lieutenant FRENCH wounded. Other Ranks killed 5. Wounded 17.
29th 2nd Lieutenant FERRIER wounded. Other ranks wounded 2. Missing 7.
31st Other Ranks wounded 3. Missing 1.
On Thursday August 17th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 2, under the heading. – BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES. – DEATHS. – GLANVILLE. – Killed in action, July 27th, 1916, Sergt. Frank Edgar Glanville (M.G.C.), the only and beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Glanville, Baythorpe, Kings-road, Paignton (late of Leicester), aged 28.
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