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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Sgt. Frank Bright
British Army 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
from:Chard, Somerset
Frank Bright was born at Colyton, East Devon in 1896, son of Thomas and Emma. Frank was from a large family, around ten children, and in early 1900s moved to Knowle St Giles near Chard, Somerset where his father worked on a farm as cowman. Upon leaving school Frank followed his father onto the land but it wasn't long before he wanted something different. He was still a lad when he joined the West Somerset Yeomanry in 1912. At outbreak of war in 1914 Frank was transferred to the newly formed 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry.
After much training in various parts of England Frank's battalion completed their training on Salisbury Plain, where in June 1915 they were inspected by the King, and in July embarked for France.
While in France Frank was promoted to sergeant. His battalion the 7th Somersets attached to 20th Light Division landed at Boulogne and by the end of July 1915 were billeted between Hazebrouck and Armentieres near the French - Belgium border. In August Frank and the 7th Somersets went into the front line trenches near Armentieres to find the opposing lines only yards apart. They were surprised and probably felt quite indignant when they heard a shout from the German trench, "Hullo. You Somerset Cukoos."
By September they were experiencing warfare above and below ground as friend and foe carried out mining and counter mining in attempts to blow up each others forward positions. In one mining explosion beneath their lines 12 men of the 7th Somersets were buried and dug out alive. Weeks later in September 1915 the division took part in the battle of Loos, suffering 561 casualties.
Frank's first Christmas Eve in France was rudely interrupted when the village of Fleurbaix, where his battalion were billeted came under fire from German artillery. As shells rained down on the village they were forced to run out into the fields to escape the bombardment.
In early 1916 Frank was in the trenches near Ypres in Belgium and a few months later the division was involved in the second campaigns of the Somme, including the battle of Le Transloy on 1st October.
Frank's division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres in July 1917, and in August the battle of Langemarck. Their fighting during the Ypres campaigns had cost his battalion (7th Somerset Lt Infantry) 5 officers killed and 14 wounded, plus other ranks 102 killed and 335 wounded.
Weeks later Frank and the 7th Somersets were back on the Somme and by mid October 1917 were at Villers-Guislain, a village on the front line with 1000 yards of No Mans land between them and the enemy. Each night they put out patrols and all returned safely with not a shot fired. So quiet was it here that some in the battalion hoped higher command would forget them until the war ends.
It was around this time when Frank was granted leave and returned home to England to get married. It was the latter quarter of 1917 when he married Kate Spiller in the district of Taunton. Frank was aged 22 this year and Kate was 20 (born 24 June 1898)
A few days later Frank returned to the Western front. No longer in a quiet sector. In March 1918 his battalion was involved in hard fighting during the great German Spring Offensive. Frank and the 7th Somersets not only held them off but managed to break through their lines.
That summer they were holding a front in the Lens sector. In the first week of October 1918 during some stiff fighting they captured the village of Fresnoy and advanced their positions by 400 yards. It was a slow and painful process but the enemy was now in retreat. Frank's Division were relieved by 12th Division on 8th October and marched back 16 miles to Averdoingt for rest. They stayed here until 30th October when the division was ordered up to Cambrai .
However, in the area of Averdoingt on 24th of October 1918 Frank Bright was wounded by a shell, with shell fragments hitting his left thigh and hand. He was admitted to No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station. And from there was moved closer to the coast to No. 9 General Hospital on 27th October, and the next day was transferred back to England.
Frank was admitted to hospital in England on 29th October 1918 where he spent the next three months (93 days) recovering from his wounds. The Armistice came while Frank was still in hospital. He was discharged from hospital on 29th January 1919. He was demobilised from the army on 27th February 1919.
After the war Frank and Kate settled in Stoke St Mary near Taunton and started to raise their family. They lived at Oakfield Farm where Frank became a dairy and poultry farmer. Frank died aged 87 in 1984. Kate died in 1992.
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