Frank Ormerod

Serjeant 265513
1st/7th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regiment)

Frank Ormerod was killed in the Ypres Salient on 20 September 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres - more commonly known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

The Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register records that he was the son of Thomas and Annie Ormerod, of 161 Burnley Rd, Rawtenstall, Manchester.

Thomas can be found on the 1901 Census, living with his parents and siblings at the Police Station at Rainhill, Lancashire. Their details are recorded as follows.

Thomas' family had a tradition of service in the Police. Thomas' grandfather, John, was a Police Officer, as was his father, Thomas.

Thomas' elder brothers James and John also served in the Police, with James retiring as a Chief Inspector and John becoming Chief Constable of Wallasey. 

At the time of his death, aged 20, 1st/7th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment), was fighting as part of 165th Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire) Division. On 20 September 1917 the Battalion was involved in action on the first day of the Battle of the Menin Road.

In Passchendaele - The Day-by-Day Account, Chris McCarthy describes the Brigade's attack on 20 September.

"165 Brigade attacked with the 1/7th and 1/9th King's Liverpool Regiment; the 1/5th and 1/6th King's were to take the Green Line. The 1/7th King's soon came under fire from Iberian and Hill 35. Iberian fell at 6.45 a.m., and by 7 a.m. the Red Line had been taken and consolidation had begun. The companies reorganised and set off to the second objective, taking Delva Farm convincingly and reaching the Green Line by 8.30 a.m.

At 9.45 a.m. two companies of the 1/5th North Lancs were ordered to reinforce the 1/6th and 1/9th King's in an attack on Hill 37 from Hill 35. At 3.35 p.m. British troops were seen advancing on the Hill and at 5.10 p.m. the position was being consolidated.

The right of the 1/9th King's immediately came under fire from Lens but this was soon dealt with. On the left, opposition came from Gallipoli which was taken by 8 a.m. along with Keir Farm dug-outs and the Capitol. Several strongpoints in the vicinity of Hill 35 were still holding out. The 1/9th King's were ordered to clear this area and Suvla, and they managed this successfully. Between 2 and 2.30 p.m. a counter-attack was repulsed by British artillery fire."

"1/7th BN. “THE KING’S” (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT) T.F.

NARRATIVE of OPERATIONS from 20th to 22nd September, 1917, inclusive.

“Z” DAY

ASSEMBLY

The Assembly position of the Battalion was a line of shell holes and disused trenches in front of POMMERN REDOUBT. This line was taped out on Y/Z night and then Battalion was in position at 4.0 a.m. and in touch on the right with the South African Brigade and on the left with the 9th King’s.

DISPOSITIONS

The Battalion form up in four waves as follows:-

---------- Enemy ----------

“C” Company                     “B” Company

“D” Company                    “A” Company

The right flank of the Battalion being on the ZONNEBEKE.

OBJECTIVES

Two objectives were allotted to the Battalion:-

(1)    A line running through IBERIAN FARM, IRMA FARM, KAYNORTH to ZONNEBEKE.

(2)    A line running approximately North and South of DELVA FARM.

The two leading companies (“B” and “C”) were to go to the 2nd Objective; the two rear Companies (“A” and “D”) to the 1st Objective.

Platoons specially detailed for Strong Points were as follows:-

No. 14 Platoon  IBERIAN FARM

“ 13 “                     IRMA FARM

“ 1 “                       KAYNORTH

“ 11”                      DELVA FARM

ATTACK

The line of attack was due East and along the bank of the ZONNEBEKE.

At ZERO the first lines advances and got close under the barrage, followed by the rear waves. Almost immediately on leaving the assembly position the Battalion suffered casualties from Machine Guns at KAYNORTH, IBERIAN FARM and HILL 35. The ground was literally a mass of shell holes and got worse as progress was made. This caused the lines and waves to become mixed up.

The first waves were held up by the Strong Points IBERIAN FARM and KAYNORTH, which comprised a number of reinforced concrete dugouts. The supporting waves pushed on and reinforced. The platoons detailed to take the Strong Points failed on account of heavy cross Machine Gun fire. On account of its being on high ground, the most bitter fighting was round IBERIAN FARM. Several gallant attempts to rush the Point failed. It was finally stormed at 6.45 a.m. with the assistance of Machine Guns, Lewis Guns, Rifle Grenades and Bombs. KAYNORTH was captured about the same time with the assistance of the South Africans on the right flank.

CAPTURE OF OBJECTIVES

At 7.0 a.m. the 1st Objective was in our hands and consolidation commenced. The two leading companies re-organised and advanced on the 2nd Objective. The only opposition encountered was from snipers in shell holes and Machine Gun fire from HILL 37. The 2nd Objective was captured at 8.30 a.m. Two Strong Points were constructed, one at DELVA FARM and the other between DELVA FARM and the ZONNEBEKE.

Five Strong Points were constructed on the 1st Objective line; two on the second objective line.

COUNTER ATTACK

About 5.30 p.m. the enemy bombarded our position and a counter attack was expected. It did not however, develop on our front.

“Z” plus 1 DAY

At 4.30 a.m. the enemy placed a heavy barrage on our Lines until daybreak. The day was quiet expect for intervals of shelling. Enemy aeroplanes were active over our new position.

At 5 p.m. a very heavy bombardment commenced which did not cease until 8.15 p.m. No counter attack developed on our front. We only suffered three casualties from this shelling.

“Z” plus 2 DAY

At dawn and dusk the enemy placed a barrage on our lines. There was heavy shelling at intervals during the day.

The 2nd/5th S. Staff Regt arrived in the Trenches about 9 p.m. to relieve the Battalion.

“Z” plus 3 DAY

1.30 a.m. Relief complete."

Frank, who was killed during the attack on 20 September 1917,  has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 31 to 34).

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that Frank was born in Manchester, and resided in Waterloo, Liverpool. He enlisted in the Army in Crosby.