Picture of Private Francis Forde Picture of John Forde (father of Frank Forde) Picture of Margaret O'Rourke Forde (mother of Frank Forde || Frank Forde was born in County Waterford in late 1899, the eldest son of John Forde of Galway, a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and Margaret O’Rourke of County Wexford. By 1911 they had moved to St Patrick’s Square in Wexford town where John Forde worked as an insurance agent. Frank Forde became a clerical worker in the Millroad Ironworks (Pierce’s Foundry) but in March 1916, aged sixteen, he enlisted as a Private with ‘D’ Company, 10th Battalion, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, with the regimental number 26437. In early August 1916, he was deployed in Northern France and saw action during the Battle of the Somme. On the morning of September 10th, just a few weeks before his seventeenth birthday, he was seriously wounded during the battle for Ginchy and died a short while later while being taken to the battlefield dressing station. He is buried in Tranchee de Mecknes Cemetery, Aix-Noulette, Pas de Calais. In a letter to Private Forde’s parents, his platoon commander, Second Lieut. A.W. Henchy wrote: “I attended the funeral service at which was present a number of his friends. He was buried in the cemetery behind the firing line and a wooden cross neatly inscribed marks his grave. You will be informed of his burial ground at some later time. As his platoon Commander, I assure you that I am indeed very sorry to lose such a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud.” || || Private Frank Forde of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, aged 16. || Private Frank Forde, age 16 || Frank Forde || Photograph || || John Forde || John Forde, Private Forde's father || Photograph || || Photograph || Margaret O'Rourke Forde || Margaret O'Rourke Forde, mother of Private Forde

The printed details on the back of this photographic postcard showing a boy dressed as a British soldier give the name of the photographer who produced it: ‘J. Bambridge, Photographer, 197, High St., Gateshead.’. Gateshead was in County Durham at the time of the First World War, which means that the boy’s cap badge is almost certainly that of the Durham Light Infantry. || A photograph showing a boy dressed as a British soldier || || A photograph of a Gateshead boy dressed as a soldier || Photograph || Deutsch

A real photographic postcard || The back of this real photographic postcard includes the details ‘Bayley’s Studios / London & Provinces’, indicating that the British soldier, his wife and four children pictured on the front visited one of the company’s studios in order for their photograph to be taken. The soldier–father’s cap badge is a flaming grenade, possible regiments therefore including the 7th (City of London) Battalion, the Grenadier Guards, the Honourable Artillery Company or one of the fusiliers’ regiments. His oldest son is wearing a Boy Scout’s uniform. || || A photograph of a British soldier and his family || Photograph