WW1 British Volunteers Latin America BVLA Royal Fusiliers Photo Album

For sale is a WW1 British Volunteers Latin America BVLA Royal Fusiliers Photograph Album Belonging To Captain Deakin.

This photograph album contains some very interesting news paper clippings, original battle photos, embossed letter heads for royal fusiliers and the BVLA and portrait photos. 

This album contains 63 military photographs and 10 civilian/ family photographs. Please note unfortunately there are missing photos, and empty pages towards the back. 

Some of the interesting battle photos include large original Ariel photos of a village occupied by Germans, British and German lines part of bony ridge before its capture in 1917, part of Passchendaele ridge marked “nothing but shell holes.”

Some of the newspaper clippings are about him and his regiment these include “the kings colour of the 12th royal fusiliers” with him in the newspaper photos. Another clipping reading “West coast volunteers Private F. J. Deakin, late of Messrs Gibbs and Co. Valparaiso, who is now serving in the 2nd battalion of the honourable artillery company” with a portrait photograph of him in uniform. A newspaper article about the total number of Germans captured in France and his regiment is underlined for the 12th royal fusiliers. A newspaper article titled “Sheffield lieutenant wounded” the article goes onto say “The name of Second-Lieut. F. J. Deakin, Royal Fusiliers, appears in the casualty list. Lieut. Deakin, who was wounded whilst leading his platoon to the attack in the recent fighting, re- ceived a severe gunshot wound, which has neces- sitated the amputation of his right leg above the knee. He is a son of Mr. Frank B. Deakin, of Sheffield. but now resident in London, and grandson of the late Mr. Joseph T. Deakin and Mr. James Veall, both Sheffield gentlemen. He was in Chili when war broke out, but gave up his engagement there and returned home to join the forces. Both his brothers are also serving with the army-one in France and the other in Salonika.” Another newspaper article includes the roll of honour where his name is mentioned whilst serving with the royal fusiliers. A newspaper article marked “the london gazette” for the 25th of February also mentions his name. Another newspaper clipping titled “granted a commission” states “GRANTED A COMMISSION. Mr. Frank J. Deakin, eldest son of Mr. Frank B. Deakin, of La Rambla, Lovelace-road, Sur biton, has been granted his commission Second-Lieutenant and appointed to the 12th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, now as in France. Second-Lieut. Deakin gave up his post in the Valparaiso office of Messrs. Antony Gibbs and Co., to come home and enlist as a private in the H.A.C., and he subsequently served in the machine gun section. He went out to France last August, and has just finished his training at the Cadet School at the British G.H.Q., now being at home on short leave. His brother, James E. Deakin, is serving with the Surrey Yeomanry in Macedonia, after ten months' work in France, and his youngest brother, Geoffrey W. Deakin, after being wounded in the trenches in France by a sheil and having been twice in hospital, has now been declared unfit for active service and ap- pointed telephone operator at the base in Boulogne.” There are some great unit photographs of him and the machine gun company mentioned in the article. There’s also newspaper articles on the death of Frank’s farther. There are also post war articles about Deakin opening the new wing in a school.

This photograph album belonged to Lieutenant Frank Joseph Deakin. 

Frank Joseph Deakin was born on the 8th of October 1891 in Argentina. On the 25th of august in 1892 he arrived in Southampton England with his family. The Birth of sister Marian Elena

L Deakin (1892-1979). Birth of brother James Eric Deakin (1893-1981). Birth of brother Geoffrey William Deakin (1896-). Birth of sister Phyllis Annie

Deakin (1899-1997).

Frank arrived In Liverpool England on the 1st of Feb 1915 aged 23 years old. 

During franks military career her served with the British Volunteers from Latin America, the 2nd battalion honourable artillery company, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 12th Battalions royal fusiliers and then in World War Two he served with 15th Cheshire (Runcorn) Battalion Home Guard. His military career did not take any breaks from when he enlisted in 1915 until just after WW2. 

Frank was badly wounded in 1917 “whilst leading his platt on to the attack in the recent fighting where he received a severe gun shot leading to the amputation of his right leg.” He was entitled to a silver wound badge. 

Frank initially served at the rank of private and by World War Two he had worked his way up to the rank of captain. 

Frank was awarded a British war medal, victory medal and 1914-15 star, long service and good conduct medal unfortunately non of these are present.

Unfortunately Frank passed away in 1972 in worth, Sussex aged 81 years old. 

Accompanying this photograph album is 9 scans of his records. Upon payment please let me know if you would prefer digital scans or printed copies. There’s still plenty of research to be done on this. There’s some superb content in this album. 

 These will be sent via royal mail special delivery and dispatched within one working day’s.

If you would like to see some more photos of the research and each of the photos please message me for more.