Commemorated:

1. Memorial:Le Touret Memorial
2. Book:The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918Pg.122
3. Memorial:The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour7C/31B GQS
    

Awards & Titles:

 

Family :

Son of the late Lt. Col. Edward Feneran and Caroline Elizabeth Feneran.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: 1/The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 

1st Battalion August 1914 : in Aldershot. Part of 6th Brigade, 2nd Division. Landed at Le Havre 13 August 1914

Action : The Battle of Neuve Chapelle and subsidiary actions 

Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts ? a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.

Neuve Chapelle (10-12 March 1915) was the first planned offensive battle by the BEF in France and achieved limited tactical success but not the expected breakthrough. It highlighted the problem of delay in execution that allowed the defending Germans to regroup, often consequent on small incidents and errors. Having stabilised the situation following the German sweep into France and the counter attack that eventually established static trench warfare on the western front, there was significant pressure on Britain to take a share of the burden from the French (who had without question had born the brunt of the fighting). Although the battle was effectively over by 12th March, the official battle nomenclature included actions in other sectors up to 22 April 1915 including the significant actions at St Eloi and at Hill 60 (Ypres).

Fernan was commissioned into the 1st Bttn the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and became a Company Commander in 1909.

He went out with the Battalion in August 1914.

Feneran was wounded at the Aisne in September 1914 and repatriated. On recovering he returned to the front in December of the same year to command A Company.

Detail :

He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 10 March 1915 at the age of 33.

The 1st Bttn took part in the attack on 10th March. A & B Companies moved forward at 8.10am. The advance was lead by the CO, Lt Col Carter who was soon hit, but refused to be carried back and continued to direct the attack from a shell hole.

At this point Feneran, leading A Company was killed.

B Company was swept by fire and unable to move forward. All officers were killed or wounded.

Those that made it to the enemy wire found it was intact. Lt Young made it as far as the enemy trenches but was killed.

The second wave was also cut down but the third wave had more success. Led by Lt Miller they made it to the enemy trenches.

Following a first winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the learning curve for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.

Frank FENERAN is commemorated on the Kenilworth War Memorial and at Le Touret.

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : St. John & St. Paul No. 349 E.C.Malta
Joined : Wellesley No. 1899 E.C. Berkshire

Initiated
Passed
Raised
5th May 1906
2nd May 1906
1st December 1906
 

Joined Wellesley Lodge No. 1899 on the 6th June 1907 when resident in Woking, recorded with The King's Regiment.

The contribution record of Wellesley Lodge show that he was "Killed in Action Apl 1915."


Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2020-04-09 11:05:33