Info for Richy 1968

[Bob Coulson]

Lt Frank Cooper Ledgard – 2nd Battalion.

Frank Ledgard was born at Scarcroft near Leeds on October 15th 1891.

He was educated at Eagle House School in Berkshire followed by Harrow and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the 2nd battalion in 1911 and made lieutenant in 1913. As Machine Gun officer he landed at Zeebrugge with the 2nd battalion on October 6th 1914, moving on to Brugges and then arriving in Ypres at noon on October 14th.

The 1st Battle of Ypres opened on October 19th and the battalion were in action up the Menin Road at Gheluwe.

On October 23rd the battalion were involved in heavy fighting in the woods between Zonnebeke and Becelaere and Lt Frank Cooper Ledgard was killed in action on this day aged 23.

The battalion history states,

“On the day of the big German attack Lt Ledgard was in command of two machine guns. Operating against us were eight machine guns and some artillery and every few minutes he had to change the position of his guns. Backwards and forwards along the trench from one position to another he was running with a heavy gun over his shoulder and perspiration streaming down his face”.

The adjutant wrote to his father later,

“The regiment has lost in him a fine and gallant officer and one that we shall not be able to replace. Up to the time of his death he had done excellent work. I was next to him when he died, he was hit and I am glad to say was killed instantly and suffered no pain. He died a splendid death and we all feel proud of him”.

Lt Ledgard was the son of Armitage and Helen Ledgard of the Manor House, Thorner in Yorkshire and he is buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery three miles to the n

[richy1968]

Many Thanks - Great Stuf

Richard