Potter, Frank 1916

Frank Potter. Died 5 June 1916

Frank was born in 1899 in Wokingham to father Charles and mother Fanny (nee Bartholomew). Father Charles and Fanny were both born in Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire and he was a domestic gardener. In 1911, Frank was only 11; they lived at Winnersh Farm in Wokingham and he was still at school. By 1916 Frank had joined the navy, probably from being inspired by his elder brothers. He was a ‘Boy First Class’, 16 years old and amongst the youngest to serve in the First World War. Little did he know that in the next few months he would be sharing a ship (HMS Hampshire) with Britain’s greatest soldier of the time, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, the face that recruited a million soldiers. In 1914 Kitchener was the absolute head of the armed forces when war broke out in 1914, but as the war rapidly changed shape and the rising influence of Lloyd George coincided with the decline of the old warrior Lord.

When Russia called for discussions of strategy, it was Kitchener who was the natural choice to hold them on behalf of Britain. His carrier was to be HMS Hampshire and on it, waiting to see the great man was the young Frank Potter. The Hampshire never made it past the Orkneys and in appalling weather, was driven into a mine or possibly a reef and was sent to the bottom of the sea. With it went the man who inspired a nation to risk their lives and take up alms and with it too went the young life of 16 year old Frank. It is impossible to imagine the atmosphere in the Potter household; although Frank was the youngest of the family to be at war, he was the first of the brothers to be killed. His two brothers, George and Thomas were to follow the next year.

From the Reading Mercury 31st March 1917:

‘…our sympathies go out to Mr and Mrs Potter of Wokingham, their son Corporal Reginald Potter wounded recently, it has been found necessary to amputate his injured leg. He was a chorister at St Paul’s church. Another of their sons Petty Officer George Potter of HMS Liverpool died recently of enteric fever and another was lost on HMS Hampshire and yet another Percy was badly injured and is still in hospital.’

Father Charles was to contemplate the full horror of his loss as he was not to die until 1936. Only months later Fanny was to follow him.

Percy was to live to 1974.

Name: POTTER, FRANK
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Boy 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. “Hampshire.”
Age: 16
Date of Death: 05/06/1916
Service No: J/39711
Additional information: Son of Charles and Fanny Potter, of Winnersh Farm, Wokingham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 14.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

Winnersh Farm, Wokingham.
Toutley Cottages, King Street, Winnersh, Wokingham.