Our Local Heroes

Corporal 375 Frank Giltrow, The Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars.

Killed in Action 21st August 1915

Frank was born August/September 1890: the April 1891 census shows his age as 7months, to Thomas and Catherine Giltrow, who ran the Cuba Hotel, (Thomas was landlord for 45 years), on Newport Road, New Bradwell. Lily, one of Frank’s sisters who was born in late 1900, speaking in later life, remembered living at The Cuba as one of 14 children. However, information from the censuses of 1891 and 1901, plus information on the family gravestone at St James Church, New Bradwell show that were at least 20 children (13 boys, 7 girls). As several of those on the 1891 census were not there in 1901, and three others were known to have died before Lily was born, it is possible that Lily did only live with 13 of her siblings.

Lily also remembered that in all six of her brothers fought in the Great War, while three of her sisters were on war work. Of the six boys, Frank appears to have been the only fatality; he fell, aged 24, during the attack on Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli. In all 107 causalties were sustained by the Royal Bucks Hussars in the battle, another of whom was Frank’s younger brother Ralph, who received wounds to an arm and leg.

Six months after the battle, the Bucks Standard of 12th February 1916 reported Frank missing in action. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Helles Memorial in Turkey and on a plaque placed on the family grave reads:

Just when his life was brightest,

Just when his hopes were blest,

His Country called-He answered,

In God’s hands now he rests.

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