King Edward’s School and the Great War

Memorial Roll of Honour 1914 - 1918

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Secker, Frank Trevolla

Private ▪ 26th Royal Fusiliers, Bankers’ Battalion

Frank Trevolla Secker, born on 18th July 1892, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1908. He lived with his mother, Esther, his father, Richard, a solicitor’s clerk, and his older sister at 58, Crompton Road, Handsworth.

At School, Frank studied in the Modern School, which offered a curriculum that emphasised scientific rather than classical subjects. Although he was below average at French, he was in the upper half of his class for German and was a strong chemist, placing fourth in his class. On leaving School, the 1911 Census indicates that he became an accountant’s clerk before transferring to Lloyds Bank on New Street.

In 1916, Frank enlisted as a Private soldier in the 26th Royal Fusiliers (Bankers’ Battalion), a volunteer battalion formed in July 1915 by the Lord Mayor of London. After initial training close to home, he proceeded to France in 1916, fighting at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the Battle of the Transloy Ridges on the Somme. Frank was killed at the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917, aged twenty-four, and is buried at Voormezeele Cemetery in Ypres. He is also commemorated on the Lloyds Bank War Memorial alongside 685 colleagues. Frank left his estate of £241 to his father.