The Feature Page
of

Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant 7715
Frank King
(
Frank Charlton)
2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers


He signed up as Frank King but his name was Frank Charlton . He was born on 16 November 1879 in Boston, Lincolnshire and died on 2 April 1917 at Prestwich, Hospital Manchester.
MANCHESTER SOUTHERN CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Lancashire
FRANK ( KING ) CHARLTON
Rank:Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Service No:7715
Date of Death:02/04/1917
Age:39
Regiment/Service:Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd Bn.
Grave Reference Q. 404 (Screen Wall).
MANCHESTER SOUTHERN CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Jane Hilton Charlton, of 174, Cecil St., Moss Side, Manchester, and the late Joseph Charlton. Born at Boston. Served in the South African Campaign.

According to "the small book" (Army form B50) see below,


Frank's small book
(Army form B50)


He enlisted in Bury, Lancashire on the 26 January (the year was not recorded) at the age of 20 years and two months. He joined for seven years in the Army and five years in the reserve.
His trade or calling was entered as Clerk.

His last permanent residence was recorded as 41 Toxteth Street, Fairfield. This was later changed to 5 Alpha Street.
He was 5'7 3/4" tall, Fresh complexion, brown eyes, light brown hair, scar on right eyebrow.
Church of England.
Under next of kin, no father is recorded. Mother - (Jane) Hilton Charlton. Brothers and sisters - William, Margaret, Ethel and Dorothy.
The latest unchanged address for his family was 275 Great Western Street, Whitworth Park, Rusholme. Previous addresses are - 5 Alpha Street, 55 Toxteth Street, Fairfield, Near Manchester, Lancashire.


He was appointed Lance Corporal 14 February 1900, promoted to Corporal 18 August 1901, appointed OR Clerk 20 February 1902, appointed Lance Sergeant 17 December 1902, promoted to Serjeant 1 May 1904, appointed Serjeant Orderly Room Clerk (ORC) 1 May 1904.
His services abroad were recorded as follows - embarked Southampton 7 November 1901 to disembarked South Africa 27 November 1901, embarked South Africa 7 October 1902, disembarked Southampton 28 October 1902.


He was awarded the Queens medal for services in South Africa 1901/02


Medal record

Pension record

I have typed transcriptions of Frank's account of the battles and superimposed them on the hand written versions.
I think Frank may have been responsible for writing the company diary as his accounts of the Battle of the Aisne and Crossing the Marne were written on pages from a carbon paper duplicate book. Would this task normally be done by one NCO or would other soldiers have been given this task as well?


I have not attached any of Frank's letters to this email as they are mainly about his family although there are some references to his military activities. I still need to put them in order. I have found your website very useful in this respect but I still have more to do. I think the accounts of the battles may be of more general interest.


Frank had a friend who he refers to in his letters only as O'Malley. I think this was Lance Corporal Frank O'Malley No. 5856 who was in the 2nd Bn in South Africa and then left the regiment. At the outbreak of the war I think he rejoined with the 5th Bn. From Frank's letters it seems that they did not meet up again. I think that after the first battle of Ypres Frank was transferred to the 3rd Echelon as QMS and then RQMS.

Paul Nettleton

Frank's Hand written account of
The Battle of Ligny
(Le Cataeu),




Frank's Hand written account of the
Crossing of the Marne


Frank's Hand written account of the
Crossing of the Aisne



Sent in by Paul Nettleton
Frank (Charlton) King was his Great Uncle Frank