Frank Brignall

Private, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)

Frank Brignall was a student at Alleyn’s until 1889 and lived at 61 Addison Road, Kensington. After leaving school, he relocated to Canada where he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force after the outbreak of war in 1914. During his service, Frank served overseas with the CEF in France and Flanders and was involved in the 2^nd Battle of Ypres in April 1915. This battle saw the Canadian forces, including the British Columbia Regiment, defiantly hold the line after the Germany Army released Chlorine gas for the first time in the war. The action would later be cited as the CEF’s ‘Baptism of Fire’ and would see the Canadians praised for their bravery and courage in the field. However, the Canadians suffered a significant amount of casualties during the struggle to secure the line, one of which was Frank who was killed in action on April 24^th 1915. He is buried at Perth Cemetery in Belgium.