Frank Bertram's Story.
Frank was born in Alsager in 1883 to Francis Creed Mayer (1848 - 1902) and Hannah nee Birks (1853 - 1932). His father, a solicitor, was Clerk to Alsager Urban District Council. In the early 1900s Frank lived with his parents and brothers and sisters, Ida, John, Gladys, Tom and Basil, at The Gables, Church Road, Alsager. Frank attended Richmond High School, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Clifton College, Bristol,where he was a Cadet Serjeant in the Officer Training Corps.
Frank qualified as a solicitor in 1906, and in January 1907 was admitted to the firm of Mayer and Nelson, Burslem, as a Member in the business. He bought a house in Sandbach Road, Alsager, where he lived alone, the rest of his family having moved to north Cheshire after the death of his father Francis in 1902. In 1912, Frank was Deputy Clerk to Alsager Urban District Council.
Frank was a keen amateur golfer who competed in the Trentham Whitsuntide Meeting in June 1912. He was runner up in the Barthomley Norton Vase Cup in May 1914. He was also a good tennis player and cricketer for Alsager Cricket Club. He was a member of the Alsager Constitutional Association, and the B'hoys chub. He was known to be a good singer at B'hoys events in the Alsager Arms pub. He sang at the 1912 annual dinner. In 1914, he was Junior Warden of the Gordon Masonic Lodge, Stoke-on-Trent, and was expected to take on the Chairmanship on his return from military duty.
On 11th September 1914, Frank enlisted as a private soldier with the North Staffordshire Regiment with the 1/5th Battalion, service number 8838. On 11th November 1914 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, and in April 1915 promoted Lieutenant. Following training, he was posted to France on 11th August 1915.
Frank was killed in action while leading 4 Platoon, 'B' Company,1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment in the first wave of attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt during the battle of Loos. During the attack he was wounded in the leg. He crawled over to another wounded man to give him a drink of water but was shot in the head still clutching the water bottle. He died on 13th October 1915, aged 32.
Frank's death was reported in the Sentinel Newspaper on 20th October 1915. Alsager Urban District Council gave a vote of condolence on his death at its meeting on 11th November 1915. He had been looking forward to his marriage during his next leave scheduled for October. In 1922 his family were awarded his medals; the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. He left over £1,100 in his will to his brother Basil Mayer.
Alsager War Memorial
As well as being remembered on the Alsager War Memorial, Frank is commemorated on the plinth of the family grave at Christ Church, Alsager. He is also commemorated on panels 103-105 of the Loos Memorial, Loos, Nord Pas-de-Calais, France. Frank was one of the founding members of the B'hoys and is remembered in their annual act of Remembrance.
Frank was a keen amateur golfer who competed in the Trentham Whitsuntide Meeting in June 1912. He was runner up in the Barthomley Norton Vase Cup in May 1914. He was also a good tennis player and cricketer for Alsager Cricket Club. He was a member of the Alsager Constitutional Association, and the B'hoys chub. He was known to be a good singer at B'hoys events in the Alsager Arms pub. He sang at the 1912 annual dinner. In 1914, he was Junior Warden of the Gordon Masonic Lodge, Stoke-on-Trent, and was expected to take on the Chairmanship on his return from military duty.
On 11th September 1914, Frank enlisted as a private soldier with the North Staffordshire Regiment with the 1/5th Battalion, service number 8838. On 11th November 1914 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, and in April 1915 promoted Lieutenant. Following training, he was posted to France on 11th August 1915.
Frank was killed in action while leading 4 Platoon, 'B' Company,1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment in the first wave of attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt during the battle of Loos. During the attack he was wounded in the leg. He crawled over to another wounded man to give him a drink of water but was shot in the head still clutching the water bottle. He died on 13th October 1915, aged 32.
Frank's death was reported in the Sentinel Newspaper on 20th October 1915. Alsager Urban District Council gave a vote of condolence on his death at its meeting on 11th November 1915. He had been looking forward to his marriage during his next leave scheduled for October. In 1922 his family were awarded his medals; the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. He left over £1,100 in his will to his brother Basil Mayer.
Alsager War Memorial
As well as being remembered on the Alsager War Memorial, Frank is commemorated on the plinth of the family grave at Christ Church, Alsager. He is also commemorated on panels 103-105 of the Loos Memorial, Loos, Nord Pas-de-Calais, France. Frank was one of the founding members of the B'hoys and is remembered in their annual act of Remembrance.