Frank Lettman was born on 22 January 1898 in Queensland. He enlisted in the 25 Infantry Battalion (7th Reinforcement) as a Private (#3133). on 11 September 1915 at Brisbane, Queensland. He gave his sister Kate as his next-of-kin and added a year to his age, claiming to be 18 and 8 months. He embarked on the 30 December on the HMAT Itonus(formerly the British India Co ship Anglia, which was sunk off Malta in December 1916). The 25th Battalion had left Gallipoli on the 18 December 1915 for Egypt before proceeding to France and adding the reinforcements. Landing on 19 March 1916, it was the first AIF battalion to arrive there; Frank disembarked in Marseilles on the 27th March before joining the battalion in Armientiers on the 23rd of April. Now fighting as part of the 2nd Division, it took part in its first major battle at Pozières between 25 July and 7 August in the course of which it suffered 785 casualties. Frank LETTMAN was declared missing on the 25th, and a commission established his death date on 29 July 1916 in Longueval, Somme, at age 18. He was buried at the Delville Wood Cemetery in Longueval. Extract from website : fergusontree.com/p.120.htm#i4655
The grave of Frank Lettman in Deville Wood Cemetry, Killed July 29 1916 in the Battle of Pozieres.
The following text is taken from the Australian War Memorial web
The following text is taken from the Australian War Memorial web
Linda Sivyer beside the grave and headstone of her great uncle Frank Lettman. Picture taken July 2015
page. (https://www.awm.gov.au/military-event/E72/)
Pozieres, a small village in the Somme valley in France, was the scene of bitter and costly fighting for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions in mid 1916.
The village was captured initially by the 1st Division on 23 July 1916. The division clung to its gains despite almost continuous artillery fire and repeated German counter-attacks but suffered heavily. By the time it was relieved on 27 July it had suffered 5,285 casualties.
The 2nd Division took over from the 1st and mounted two further attacks - the first, on 29 July, was a costly failure; the second, on 2 August, resulted in the seizure of further German positions beyond the village. Again, the Australians suffered heavily from retaliatory bombardments. They were relieved on 6 August, having suffered 6,848 casualties.
The 4th Division was next into the line at Pozieres. It too endured a massive artillery bombardment, and defeated a German counter-attack on 7 August; this was the last attempt by the Germans to retake Pozieres.
Pozieres, a small village in the Somme valley in France, was the scene of bitter and costly fighting for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions in mid 1916.
The village was captured initially by the 1st Division on 23 July 1916. The division clung to its gains despite almost continuous artillery fire and repeated German counter-attacks but suffered heavily. By the time it was relieved on 27 July it had suffered 5,285 casualties.
The 2nd Division took over from the 1st and mounted two further attacks - the first, on 29 July, was a costly failure; the second, on 2 August, resulted in the seizure of further German positions beyond the village. Again, the Australians suffered heavily from retaliatory bombardments. They were relieved on 6 August, having suffered 6,848 casualties.
The 4th Division was next into the line at Pozieres. It too endured a massive artillery bombardment, and defeated a German counter-attack on 7 August; this was the last attempt by the Germans to retake Pozieres.