3rd Class Constable 404, Frank Reed56. Frank worked at Long Eaton as a railway shunter on the Midland Railway when, at the age of almost 21 yrs, he was appointed a constable on August 12th 1914. After being stationed at Ilkeston he was transferred to the North Derbyshire town of Charlesworth just before Christmas. As he had not long joined the force when volunteers were called for to join the army on May 10th 1915 he gained a favourable record from the Chief Constable by enlisting into the 16th Btn, (Sherwood Foresters) Notts & Derbys Rgt. Sergeant 25881 Reed was never to return to his previous occupation as he was taken prisoner by the Germans in the previously mentioned action over the old Somme battlefields. The county force were aware that he had been taken prisoner but as he had not made contact with them by March 1919 a constable was detailed to make enquiries at his parents address at Matlock Road, Ambergate. He was informed that 24 year old Frank had been wounded and taken prisoner on March 24th 1918 but had subsequently died of his injuries a month later on April 24th57. His captors had provided a list shortly after his death indicating that the owner of the pay book had died in a military hospital58.He is buried in grave Ref No. V. B. 12. Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery59

andrew picken