Frank's Story.
Birkenhead News 10 December 1914BIRKENHEAD “SCOT” KILLED IN ACTION.
“THE SCOTTISH ARE MAKING A FINE SHOW”.
It is with deep regret that we announce that the name of Private Francis Nethercott, of 13, Green Lane, Birkenhead, appears among the killed in the second list of casualties of the Liverpool Scottish. It will be remembered that the first casualty list showed that Captain Twentyman, of Birkenhead, had been killed, and now another Birkenhead man’s name has been added to the immortal roll of honour.
This second engagement in which the Liverpool Scottish took part seems to have been a very severe one, as there are more casualties.
The young soldier who has so valiantly given his life for his country is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Nethercott, of Green Lane, and was before the war broke out an apprentice rivetter in the employ of Messrs. Cammell Laird. Before joining the Liverpool Scottish, early last summer, he had been a member of the Army Service Corps.
When the war broke out, fate found him in Woolton Convalescent Home, suffering from a sharp attack of pneumonia. But so great was his zeal to be “in it,” on hearing that the Scottish had gone to Edinburgh, that when he was sufficiently strong he went straight from the Home to the barracks in the Scottish capital. His family are broken-hearted at his death, news of which was received on Thursday.
In letters from local men who are serving with the battalion, references are made to the new list of casualties.
Private F. D. Reid, in a letter which is dated December 10th, states :- “I am very sorry to say we again had three killed and eight wounded, and that is small considering that the weather has been terrible, and the position the same, but the Scottish are making a fine show. The people at home do not realise what war is like, and think that the poor devils in the trenches have hot dinners to keep them warm, but let them come out here and see for themselves. It is terrible. The trenches are in some places six inches to two feet in water and slush. You see things that nearly turn you sick. We are with four of the finest regiments in the Army, that have had most of the work to do since the war began.” One of the other killed in the Liverpool Scottish was Private Ernest Breckenridge, who was well-known in Liverpool and Waterloo, and in sporting circles generally on Merseyside.
Private Nethercott, who was only 19 years of age, was a communicant at St. Luke’s Church, Lower Tranmere. He was very popular in the district, and news of his death has caused widespread sympathy with the relatives.