Soldier Record

Frank Monaghan Private 3428

2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers

Age 23 who died on Monday 22nd February 1915 at La Chapelle Farm at Ypres (Hill 60)

Born 30th April 1891 at 10 Dunn Street Jarrow

Baptised 23rd May 1891 at St. Bede's in Jarrow

Son of William Monaghan (born Co. Monaghan) of 46 Lord Street Jarrow, and and the late Catherine Monaghan (Casey) (born Co. Monaghan)

Commemorated at Hooge Crater Cemetery West Vlaanderen Ypres Belgium

On Special Memorial 13 To those who died at La Chapelle Farm

Frank was a regular soldier and had enlisted aged 21 in Jarrow June/July 1912.

On 22nd February 1915 after four days of heavy fighting near Verbrandenmolen Zillebeke Belgium La Chapelle Farm

Frank was mortally wounded and died shortly after from his wounds

It was said he was resting his feet with his boots off when the Germans made an attack on their trenches

His battalion were ordered to counter attack, and he never had time to put on his boots on

So he went over the top in just his puttees

He was buried at La Chapelle farm with a wooden cross as a marker

Buried alongside Frank were 12 other crosses 10 from the 1st Lincolnshire's, 2 from the 1st Dorsetshire's and one from the 1st Bedfordshire's

During the preceding years the little wooden cross cemetery was pounded by shellfire and by the end of the war there was no trace of any graves

After the war the Commonwealth Graves Commission made a Duhallow (special memorial) at Hooge Crater Cemetery a few kilometres away

To those lost graves at La Chapelle farm

Out of nearly 50 killed from the 2nd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers during the four days fighting Frank was the only one who got buried at La Chapelle Farm

All of the rest were lost without trace and are commemorated on the Menin Gate

Frank had served in the Royal Navy prior to WW1 (hence the photograph of him in Naval uniform which was taken 1910-11)

Which is the only surviving photograph of him.

The photograph was taken between 10th March 1910 to 5th August 1911 when he served on HMS Monmouth a Battle Cruiser built in 1903

Ironically it was sunk by the Nurnberg at the Battle of Coronel in the Falklands on the 1st of November 1914 with the loss of all hands

He was dishonourably discharged from the Royal Navy 5th August 1911

Frank became a Regular soldier when he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in Jarrow June/July 1912.

Here is a notification of his 3rd Class Certificate of Education awarded while serving with the 2nd Battalion at Hillsborough Barracks, Sheffield on the 30th July 1912.

He would have later been stationed in Sabathu, India. with the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.

Frank's older brother William Monaghan Private 9918. 1st Battalion Royal Scots died on 9th May 1915 at Sanctuary Wood. Hooge (Hill 62). They died within a mile of each other.