1878750, Driver, 254 Field Park Company. Royal Engineers.
Drowned on the 8th March 1941 aged 25.
The grave of Driver Frank Cheyne in the Kirkee War Cemetery, India.
Frank was born on 5th November 1915, the youngest son of William & Agnes Cheyne of The Green, Benington.
Tragically, his older brother, Alec, was involved in accident on 7th July 1931 at Pinn Green, Stevenage, when the motorcycle he was riding was in collision with a bus. He suffered a fractured skull and lost his life as a result. He was just 17 years-old.
On 3rd October 1939, Frank entered the Territorial Army recruiting centre in Cambridge and signed up for service with the Royal Engineers. Standing at 6 feet in height, the blue-eyed, fair-haired, heavy lorry driver soon found himself at the Royal Engineers motor transport depot undergoing basic training. Just a few weeks later, Frank was posted to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), serving with 254 Field Park Company. He saw action with the unit as it withdrew across France and was evacuated to the UK on 7th June 1940.
His unit was posted to India on 20th December 1940, undertaking a long and arduous journey to Bombay. After just 79 days on the sub continent, Frank was accidentally drowned at Maharashtra, India, on 8th March 1941.
Unable to face the loss of his second son, William Cheyne took his own life at Benington Lordship by shooting himself in the head on 3rd June 1941.
Frank Cheyne is buried in the Kirkee War Cemetery, India. (8.K.2.).