Lot Essay
D.S.O. London Gazette 27.7.1916 'For conspicuous gallantry and ability. He organized and carried out with great dash a successful raid on the enemy's trenches. Many of the enemy were killed, many prisoners taken and two machine-guns destroyed'.
Mention in Despatches London Gazette 4.1.1917.
Captain A.C. Frame, D.S.O., originally entered the French Theatre of War in early November 1914, his Battalion, the 1/9th "Glasgow Highlanders", Highland Light Infantry having been mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities. Landing at Le Havre, the 9th proceeded to join 5th Brigade, 2nd Division in the Ypres sector, replacing the 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers in the line. This was quite an honour for a Territorial Battalion of the B.E.F., but possibly a reflection of the fact its men were 'big and well made, as well as being of an exceedingly good class'.
In the Spring of 1915, the 9th was employed in the Battle of Richebourg Festubert, in which offensive it took heavy casualties from enemy machine-gun fire while advancing over open ground. The objective, however, was achieved, a quarter of a mile of the enemy's line being captured and held. Then in September it participated in the Battle of Loos, once more taking heavy casualties. Worse, however, was to come, for the 9th joined 100th Brigade, 33rd Division, XI Corps, on the Somme in the early Summer of 1916.
But from Temporary Captain Frame's point of view, the action began proper even before 'The First Day of the Somme', for on 27 June, he was selected to lead an intelligence-gathering raid near Cambrin, South-West of Ouchy. What followed was afterwards described as the very model of how a raid should be carried out and won the "Glasgow Highlanders", and Frame, unprecedented approbation and immediate recognition. The Commander of XI Corps, 33rd Division, was among the first to recognise the importance of the raid, and sent the following message to First Army H.Q.:
'This is the most successful of the 40 raids carried out by the Corps since we came into this part of the line in the middle of November last. It was carried out by a Territorial Battalion that had only just joined the Division and in my opinion reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. Both the G.O.C. 33rd Division and the G.O.C. 100th Brigade took the greatest pains to ensure that every detail was thought out and provided for beforehand, and the gallant and determined manner in which the operation was carried out by the 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Highlanders) will be a great encouragement to other units. Colonel Stormonth Darling, who commanded the Battalion, and Captain Frame who commanded the raid, deserve great credit for inspiring their Officers and men with a fine offensive spirit'.
And on receiving a letter from Sir Douglas Haig, The Lord Provost of Glasgow wrote to the 9th's C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel Stormonth Darling, in the following terms:
'Sir Douglas Haig has sent me a most charming letter telling me of the brilliant work done by your Battalion during the night of 27 June, when you brought back 46 prisoners and two machine-guns besides destroying some mine shafts during your tour of the enemy trenches. Will you allow me, not only on my own behalf but on behalf of the citizens of Glasgow, to congratulate you and your Battalion most heartily on this notable feat, which is quite in keeping with the traditions of the Glasgow Highlanders and other troops from this city. We always knew that when the opportunity occurred they would discharge with efficiency and distinction any task entrusted to them. We are proud of the Glasgow Highlanders and of what they have done and feel sure that in the future they will display the same gallantry and courage as in the past'.
The Lord Provost would not have to wait long to see a display of that 'same gallantry and courage', for on 15 July, the Battalion attacked "Switch Line" and took some 420 casualties from enemy machine-gun fire. Then on 1.11.1916, it advanced over 'thick deep slime' to attack "Boritska" and "Hazy" Trenches, once more being swept by machine-gun fire and forced to retire. The C.O., Stormonth Darling, was killed leading the attack. Confirmed in War Services of Officers of the British Army as having been twice wounded during the Great War, it seems probable that Frame received one of these wounds on the Somme. He departed the Western Front in April 1917, afterwards serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from June of the same year until October 1918.
'A. Carr Frame was a well known Glasgow Academical and Rugby player. He played at half-back for the Academicals for a dozen years and captained them in the season of 1901-02. He played six times in the Inter-City match and once for Glasgow against the All Blacks. If the Scottish half-backs of the time had not been P. Munro and E.D. Simson, he would have undoubtedly been capped. After war service in the Glasgow Highlanders, he went out to the Sudan and Egypt. He died in Glasgow on 17 October 1930' (Accompanying research refers).
Mention in Despatches London Gazette 4.1.1917.
Captain A.C. Frame, D.S.O., originally entered the French Theatre of War in early November 1914, his Battalion, the 1/9th "Glasgow Highlanders", Highland Light Infantry having been mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities. Landing at Le Havre, the 9th proceeded to join 5th Brigade, 2nd Division in the Ypres sector, replacing the 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers in the line. This was quite an honour for a Territorial Battalion of the B.E.F., but possibly a reflection of the fact its men were 'big and well made, as well as being of an exceedingly good class'.
In the Spring of 1915, the 9th was employed in the Battle of Richebourg Festubert, in which offensive it took heavy casualties from enemy machine-gun fire while advancing over open ground. The objective, however, was achieved, a quarter of a mile of the enemy's line being captured and held. Then in September it participated in the Battle of Loos, once more taking heavy casualties. Worse, however, was to come, for the 9th joined 100th Brigade, 33rd Division, XI Corps, on the Somme in the early Summer of 1916.
But from Temporary Captain Frame's point of view, the action began proper even before 'The First Day of the Somme', for on 27 June, he was selected to lead an intelligence-gathering raid near Cambrin, South-West of Ouchy. What followed was afterwards described as the very model of how a raid should be carried out and won the "Glasgow Highlanders", and Frame, unprecedented approbation and immediate recognition. The Commander of XI Corps, 33rd Division, was among the first to recognise the importance of the raid, and sent the following message to First Army H.Q.:
'This is the most successful of the 40 raids carried out by the Corps since we came into this part of the line in the middle of November last. It was carried out by a Territorial Battalion that had only just joined the Division and in my opinion reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. Both the G.O.C. 33rd Division and the G.O.C. 100th Brigade took the greatest pains to ensure that every detail was thought out and provided for beforehand, and the gallant and determined manner in which the operation was carried out by the 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Highlanders) will be a great encouragement to other units. Colonel Stormonth Darling, who commanded the Battalion, and Captain Frame who commanded the raid, deserve great credit for inspiring their Officers and men with a fine offensive spirit'.
And on receiving a letter from Sir Douglas Haig, The Lord Provost of Glasgow wrote to the 9th's C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel Stormonth Darling, in the following terms:
'Sir Douglas Haig has sent me a most charming letter telling me of the brilliant work done by your Battalion during the night of 27 June, when you brought back 46 prisoners and two machine-guns besides destroying some mine shafts during your tour of the enemy trenches. Will you allow me, not only on my own behalf but on behalf of the citizens of Glasgow, to congratulate you and your Battalion most heartily on this notable feat, which is quite in keeping with the traditions of the Glasgow Highlanders and other troops from this city. We always knew that when the opportunity occurred they would discharge with efficiency and distinction any task entrusted to them. We are proud of the Glasgow Highlanders and of what they have done and feel sure that in the future they will display the same gallantry and courage as in the past'.
The Lord Provost would not have to wait long to see a display of that 'same gallantry and courage', for on 15 July, the Battalion attacked "Switch Line" and took some 420 casualties from enemy machine-gun fire. Then on 1.11.1916, it advanced over 'thick deep slime' to attack "Boritska" and "Hazy" Trenches, once more being swept by machine-gun fire and forced to retire. The C.O., Stormonth Darling, was killed leading the attack. Confirmed in War Services of Officers of the British Army as having been twice wounded during the Great War, it seems probable that Frame received one of these wounds on the Somme. He departed the Western Front in April 1917, afterwards serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from June of the same year until October 1918.
'A. Carr Frame was a well known Glasgow Academical and Rugby player. He played at half-back for the Academicals for a dozen years and captained them in the season of 1901-02. He played six times in the Inter-City match and once for Glasgow against the All Blacks. If the Scottish half-backs of the time had not been P. Munro and E.D. Simson, he would have undoubtedly been capped. After war service in the Glasgow Highlanders, he went out to the Sudan and Egypt. He died in Glasgow on 17 October 1930' (Accompanying research refers).