Chalmers, Frank

BORN PERTH 1894, BUT LIVED IN HULL. DROWNED WITH HIS GIRLFIRIEND IN A BOATING ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER DON. HE IS BURIED HOOTEN PAGNELL (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, DONACSTER. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE SENT TO HIS MOTHER, CATHERINE.
Hull Pals Memorial Post. L/SGT FRANK CHALMERS 10/1072. Born 1894 in Perth, but a resident of Hull at the time of enlistment in October 1914, Frank was one of the original Pals. He was manager of a dye works before the war and had two years experience in the Highland Regiments in peacetime which may explain his rank. Frank fought in Egypt and the Somme, but there the trail runs cold. He is listed as having Died At Home on 6th July 1917, and is buried at Hooton Pagnell (All Saints) Cemetery in South Yorkshire.
Joe Solo writes 04/11/2012 – Strangely, this was the second 10th Battalion soldier to have died at home in a boating accident. – PRIVATE JAMES LAWRENCE SIMMONS 14133, died on Good Friday, 2nd April 1915, after falling from a rowing boat on the Ouse in York. He couldn’t swim and drowned before anyone could save him. James hadn’t even made it to the war. Bizarre that we should lose two men in this way.