FRANK JASPER (1893-1917)

Frank Jasper is featured in the North Hill Local History Group’s publication “The Fallen of North Hill Parish”. If you have any knowledge, information, pictures or artefacts which would be useful in telling his story, please contact us.

Frank was born in Mount Pleasant in Lezant and baptized in the parish church there on the 17th March 1893. His parents were William and Jane (nee Mayne) Jasper. In 1901 the family lived in Illand but by 1911 they had moved the short distance to Newtown. Frank and his sister at this time were living and working for Thomas Trewin at Tolcarne in North Hill.

Frank joined the army and enlisted into the Worcestershire regiment.

Frank Jasper was killed in action during an attack on German lines east of Bouchavesnes to the north of Peronne and the River Somme. This attack was part of many actions in the Ancre Valley prior to the withdrawal of the German forces to the Hindenburg Line. These attacks were intended to keep German attention focussed on the Somme area while preparations continued for the Arras battle further north.

The 8th Division attack was in brigade strength and was an example of new infantry attack tactics implemented after changes to the structure, equipment and training of infantry platoons. Frank would have learned the skills necessary for smaller units to fight forward in the absence of artillery support under local command. These methods were a vast improvement on the tactics employed during the previous summer.

The attack was carried out under a creeping artillery barrage and the German positions were soon won.

About 100 prisoners were taken by the battalion and subsequent enemy counter attacks beaten off. Heavy shelling of lost positions by the enemy continued all day.

Casualties suffered by the battalion during the day were 5 officers and 44 other ranks killed, 4 officers and 158 other ranks wounded and 1 officer and 11 other ranks missing. The fallen who have no known place of rest, including Frank, are commemorated on the Thiepval Monument, shown in the banner on this page.

Frank’s name is inscribed on the Lewannick War Memorial (shoen here) and his parents are buried in the grounds of the Wesleyan Church in Coad’s Green.

The Stoke Climsland war memorial lists F Jasper amongst its fallen. It has not been possible to determine whether this is another entry for Frank or another man. Frank’s mother came from Venterdon in Stoke Climsland and it may have been a member of her Mayne family who asked for Frank’s name to be recorded here.

Our thanks go to Nick Deacon for his research into Frank Jasper.