Frank Lester
Encyclopedia
Frank Lester VC
(18 February 1896 – 12 October 1918) was an English soldier in the British Army
during the First World War
, and recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British Commonwealth
forces.
Lester was born on 18 February 1896 in Huyton
, near Liverpool, to John and Ellen Lester, He enlisted in the Army in March 1916 and was posted to the 10th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment. He was soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant Instructor, training recruits at Prees Heath, Shropshire and Kinmel Park, North Wales. In June 1917 he was transferred at his own request to the Lancashire Fusiliers and in December that year he was drafted to France with the 10th Battalion of that regiment. In going overseas he relinquished the rank of Sergeant Instructor and reverted back to Private.
In the winter of 1918, now promoted to corporal, he was wounded during the massive German offensive and was sent to Rouen for treatment. On leaving hospital he returned to England to await another posting. After some leave he was sent to Cromer, Norfolk and in September was sent back to the front in France.
in the 10th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers performed a deed for which he was awarded the VC.
. He is also commemorated on the family memorial in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Hoylake, Wirral.
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum
, London.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(18 February 1896 – 12 October 1918) was an English soldier in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Lester was born on 18 February 1896 in Huyton
Huyton
Huyton is a suburb of Liverpool within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, with some parts belonging to the borough of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Urban Area and has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with...
, near Liverpool, to John and Ellen Lester, He enlisted in the Army in March 1916 and was posted to the 10th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment. He was soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant Instructor, training recruits at Prees Heath, Shropshire and Kinmel Park, North Wales. In June 1917 he was transferred at his own request to the Lancashire Fusiliers and in December that year he was drafted to France with the 10th Battalion of that regiment. In going overseas he relinquished the rank of Sergeant Instructor and reverted back to Private.
In the winter of 1918, now promoted to corporal, he was wounded during the massive German offensive and was sent to Rouen for treatment. On leaving hospital he returned to England to await another posting. After some leave he was sent to Cromer, Norfolk and in September was sent back to the front in France.
Victoria Cross
Lester was part of the British offensive which was steadily pushing the German front line back. They encountered stiff resistance, the Germans were determined to prevent a rout of the "impregnable" Hindenburg Line and fighting for survival. It was 12 October 1918, in driving rain and sleet, that the 22 years old corporalCorporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the 10th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers performed a deed for which he was awarded the VC.
Legacy
He is at buried in row B, grave 15 in Neuvilly Communal Cemetery Extension, France located 3 miles north of Le CateauLe Cateau-Cambrésis
Le Cateau-Cambrésis is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.The term Cambrésis indicates that it lies in the county of that name which fell to the Prince-Bishop of Cambrai.-History:...
. He is also commemorated on the family memorial in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Hoylake, Wirral.
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
, London.
External links
- Burial location of Frank Lester "France"
- News item "Frank Lester's Victoria Cross sold at auction"