Remembered
On This Day, 6 April 1916

Frank Bird was killed in action on this day in 1916

Frank Bird
Frank Bird

Frank Bird was born in Stairfoot, Barnsley on 9 Jan 1889.

His parents were John (a colliery roadman underground) and Emily (née Thewils) of 29 Doncaster Road, Ardsley, near Barnsley.

In 1901, aged 12, Frank was living at 83 Doncaster Road, with his parents, siblings and 3 year old niece.

In 1911, aged 22, he was still living with his parents, older brother Richard (a colliery labourer above ground) and younger sisters Ethel and Florence.

Frank was a miner, a colliery hurrier above ground. The hurrier (a Yorkshire term) was the person who moved the tubs between the coal face, pit head and stacks. His marginally less onerous task saw him taking the tubs on their journey once they had arrived at the surface.

Frank Bird Mining
A hurrier and two thrusters heaving a corf full of coal as depicted in the 1853 book The White Slaves of England by J. Cobden

Frank enlisted 21 August 1915 into the 8th (Service) Bn The King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). He was killed in action at Albert 6 April 1916.

Frank Bird Albert
A view of ruined buildings and blasted trees in the town of Albert in the Somme region.© IWM Art.IWM ART 17282

Frank is buried in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension.

Frank Bird Cemetery
Albert Communal Cemetery Extension
Frank Bird Pension Card Index
Frank Bird - Pension Card Index (above) and Ledger (below)
Frank Bird Pension Card
Pension Card for Frank Bird

13279 Pte Frank Bird, 8th (Service) Bn The King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)

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1 April 1918

Augustus Dilberoglue was killed in action on this day in 1918

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2 April 1917

Robert Alister Field MC was killed in action on this day in 1917

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3 April 1918

Clarence Atkins Brown was killed in action on this day in 1918

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4 April 1917

Harold Charles Davis was killed in action on this day in 1917

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5 April 1917

Harry Atheling Russell Boustead died of wounds on this day in 1917

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7 April 1917

George Orme Smart was killed in action on this day in 1917

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8 April 1918

Arthur Algernon Pickles died of wounds on this day in 1918

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9 April 1917

Ewart Doodson was killed in action on this day in 1917

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10 April 1917

William Forbes Guild died of wounds on this day in 1917

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11 April 1918

Jack Whiteley was killed in action on this day in 1918

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12 April 1917

William Lennox Farquharson Holland was killed in action on this day in 1917

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13 April 1917

William Milne was accidentally killed on this day in 1917

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14 April 1918

Wade Stubbs died of wounds on this day in 1918

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15 April 1918

Harold Hubert Thompson died of wounds on this day in 1918

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16 April 1916

Hay Guthrie was killed in action on this day in 1916

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17 April 1917

Reginald George Gregson-Ellis was killed in action on this day in 1917

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18 April 1915

Edward Dimmock was killed in action on this day in 1915

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19 April 1916

Dennis Cyril Byrne was killed in action on this day in 1916

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20 April 1917

Arthur Chambers died of wounds on this day in 1917

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21 April 1916

Louis Cloostermans died of wounds on this day in 1916

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22 April 1915

Albert Troughton was shot at dawn on this day in 1915

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23 April 1916

Charles Fernand Sylvain van Eleghem died on this day in 1916

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24 April 1917

George Kemp was killed in action on this day in 1917

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25 April 1916

Louis Amans Jean dit Vareillese was killed in action on this day in 1916

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26 April 1915

Percy D'Aguilar Banks was killed in action on this day in 1915

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27 April 1917

James Wormwell died of wounds on this day in 1917

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28 April 1915

Pierre Scheurer was killed in action on this day in 1915

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29 April 1917

John Guy Campbell was killed in action on this day in 1917

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30 April 1915

Alfred Harold Smith accidentally drowned on this day in 1915

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