Sapper Frank Tagg
37229 & 146905 Royal Engineers, 5th Field Co,
Frank was born on 20th July 1886 at Selston, Notts son of John Tagg a colliery engine winder born Codnor and his wife Fortuna (nee Waterall). In 1911 the family was living at Toad Hole, Selston. Frank had brothers and sisters Thomas William, Elise, Ida Grace and John Waterall. Frank attended the Selston C of E School. His elder brother Thomas William also served in WW1 and was killed in action in 1916.
Frank enlisted at Eastwood on 11th December 1915, aged 29 years and was posted to Chatham, Kent in March 1916. He served in France and Belgium for 2 years and 3 months. On 4th November 1918 he fractured his ankle whilst in a trench and was transferred to a Canadian Hospital in France and then back home to the Manchester General Hospital. He was discharged on 24th September 1919 and was a recipient of the Victory and British War Medals. Frank was demobbed to New Westwood.
Frank was deeply affected by his wartime experiences and suffered dreadful nightmares. He would awake screaming in terror and this so affected the family that his father had to ask him to live on his own. He did find comfort and solace eventually, with a lady called ‘Peggy’ Holden, the ex-wife of James Holden who had killed her lover and attempted to kill her. ‘Peggy’ had also suffered great trauma in her life having survived not only the attempted murder by her ex-husband, she also survived losing a leg in a railway accident. She was much older than Frank, but they brought each other great comfort. They remained together until Peggy died.
In 1941 Frank married Dorothy Lawman and they had a son named Frank but, tragically, young Frank died aged only 4.