Pte Frank Sweeting 1/16 London R trans to RDC

[Jellyby]

The names below the photo are not connected with it, but are those Dave is researching!

Yes indeed there were loads of hospitals at Rouen, which was one of the main base depots in France. The entire coastal area was given over to hospitals and convalescent camps; training areas; administrative centres etc etc...

Jacqueline's mother was right in thinking that soldiers who were good (often professional) entertainers were often assigned to concert parties; however first we have to determine

1/16th Londons (QWR) were in the flooded trenches of the Potijze sector of the Ypres salient for the first 10 days of November 1915. They were relieved by the 11th Essex on the night of 11th November, and rested in "hutments in the woods near Poperighe."

They endured another brief spell in trenches before moving by rail and bus "to Houtkerke for 3 weeks real rest", where they stayed until 9th December, when they returned to the Potizje sector. Could Frank have been one of the 11 casualties of a working party caught by enemy fire on 13th December? Or did he succumb to effects the gas attack on 19th December? (whose "effects were very insignificant, complete protection being obtained from the gas masks"). The 1/16th QWR were still there with the rest of 6th Division until February.

The question here is exactly what he was doing in Rouen at the time. Was Frank recuperating, or was he awaiting his turn as a reinforcement at an Infantry Base Depot?

The QWRs ran a concert party called The Frivolities from their home base at Hazely Down, Winchester in mid-1916, but I have no mention of Frank Sweeting taking part.

I'll keep looking!

 

[kwr]

Dear Jellyby
thank you so much for this reply. I was considering buying the QWR war book, but even at about £9 on Amazon, it seemed a bit much for 6 weeks. I imagine you have it...(Why does Rootschat think I am my husband, Ken?)
The family story says Frank was in the trenches, as a sniper, for only about 6 weeks before he went down with rheumatic fever and was then in hospital for so long that his mother wrote to the King to see if they had forgotten him (no record in Royal Archives and she was said to be practically illiterate!)
Effectively, his war was over. He still would not talk about it afterwards, though,  like all the others.
I have no idea where to look to see if there is a hospital record. My mother thinks that it was Roehampton, but that was a place for people who needed replacement limbs, I believe.
I don't know if he was in this entertainment on Jan 23 as a convalescent or if he was pulled out of the line to be an entertainer; he was an excellent pianist, and a very funny raconteur.
When he reappeared in April 1917, and got married, he was a lance corporal in the RDC based at Frinton on Sea. He brought a lot of potatoes back with him to Camberwell when he got w/e leaves. Maybe potato peeling was all he could do after his rheumatic fever. I can't find anything about the RDC at Frinton, or St Osyths, possibly his base then, either.
Please keep looking. since I don't know where to go next!
yours
Jacqueline

[Jellyby]

Dear Mrs Ken!

I have a half-written e-mail on my screen, which will be completed later after I have made something which is passible edible. Anyway...

Tell me what you know of Frank. Where was he born, and living / employemnt on enlistment? I'm trying to determine why he chose the QWRs. They seem to have attracted members of the Civil Service as a pre-war territorial unit, though one of my concert party men who enlisted was a singing student at the Royal College of Music.

I'm sure my mother had rheumatic fever as a child during WW2, and was ordered to stay in bed for weeks, which is why I'm pondering his appearance in the photo. They all look pretty spry, so if it is a convalescent camp, full marks to the medical staff.

[kwr]

REPLY from Mrs Ken
Frank was born to a middle class family in Lambeth 14 2 1896. (mother not middle class) His father William Charles was a draper with his own business provided by his very successful father, a publican developer in Peckham. William's business failed. They moved to Croyden. Frank attended an independent school. His grandfather was a shareholder in Barclays Bank (I believe it was started by publicans) Frank's first job was in a bank (Grandpa's indfluence? don't know). He hated it. Became a commis waiter in posh clubs/ restaurants/hotels in West End. I think he would have joined up from here. His background as a young ent  and his wonderful sense of humour would make him acceptable to posh types. I presume he answered Kitchener's call.
Jacqueline

[kwr]

To Jellaby.
Frank. His wife (Met 1915 I think) was best friends with a woman who lived with Teddy Rushforth, a musician who played at lots of coronations (not 1953) and later taught at Guildhall School of Music. Musical connections?
Jacqueline