13th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
Frank Damsell was born in the third quarter of 1898 and was one of five children born to Elijah and Esther Damsell of France Lynch. Both parents were born in nearby Bisley. Elijah was employed at the local stick works. He was baptised at St John’s Church France Lynch on 11 September 1898.
At the 1901 Census, Frank was two with three siblings aged five, four and three months. Ten years later there was another sister, Maud who was then eight. Elijah was working as a wood cutter, brother Arthur, 14, was a mount maker in the stick trade. An older sister, Vera was living with relatives locally and working as a dressmaker.
Thankfully service records have survived. Frank enlisted at Stroud on 8 May 1916 aged 17 years 336 days. He was barely 5’ 3” and seven stone and gave his occupation as a carpenter. Frank was with the Army Reserve until January 1917 when he was posted with the Devonshire Regiment.
He transferred to the Labour Corps three months later (which may indicate that he was considered insufficiently fit for front line service). Frank had two spells in hospital in the first half of 1918 for scabies and a hand injury.
However, in October he contracted pneumonia and was admitted to Balmer Lawn New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst on the 24th. The records graphically detail Frank’s rapid deterioration from feeling unwell on the 21st to his death on the 29th. He was 20 years old.
Researched by Helen Wollington May 2021