GILBERT FRANKAU, 1884-1952.

Educated at Eton. Volunteered at the start of the war. He fought at Loos, Ypres and on the Somme. In spite of the bitter tone of some of his poetry he was an intense patriot and supporter of the war throughout. – At his own request, perhaps realising that he could not suppress the trauma much longer, he was transferred from the front line to staff work at the end of 1916 – propaganda in Italy.

His brother, Jack, was killed in November 1917. He was invalided out of the war in February 1918 with shell-shock.

He served in the RAF as a Squadron Leader in World War II.