Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Bowler, born in the January quarter of 1868 in Shepshed, Leicestershire (son of James Bowler and Sarah Brotherhood) and his wife Arabella Bowler (nee McKinvien, married on the 18th January 1893 in Camlachie, Lanarkshire, Scotland) born on the 30th March 1859 in Perth, Scotland (daughter of James McKinvien and Eleanor Watt). Frank Brotherhood was born on the 12th November 1895 in Coventry Warwickshire and was baptised on the 26th March 1909 in St. Andrew’s Church, Thringstone, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, James, who was born on the 21st July 1893 in Coventry and baptised on the 26th March 1909 in St. Andrew’s Church, Thringstone. In March 1901 Frank was residing in Brook Street, Shepshed together with his sibling James, this being the family home of his Uncle, John William Peters, a shoe trade finisher, born 1876 in Whitwick, Leicestershire and his wife Keziah Peters (nee Bowler, married on the 17th September 1898 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed), a shoe trade machinist, born 1873 in Shepshed. In April 1911 Frank was employed as an engineering works driller and was residing with his sibling, James, also an engineering works driller at The Star Inn, Thringstone, this being the family home of his Uncle, John Peters, a publican and his wife Keziah, assisting in the business, and their children, Ruby Irene, born 1906 and Edna I., born in the April quarter of 1911, both children were born in Thringstone, also residing in the family home was Frank’s cousin, Gertrude Ada Smart, a dressmaker, born 1885 in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. In March 1901, Frank’s mother was a patient in the County Asylum in Hatton Budbrooke, Warwickshire and in April 1911 she continued to be a patient, and sadly in the January quarter of 1914 died there, aged 54, Arabella was interred in St. George’s Cemetery, Edgbaston, Warwickshire. In March 1901 Frank’s father was employed as a motor car fitter and was residing at In Court, 13, Spon Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, in 1924 he had been residing at 40, Stockton Road, Coventry and had been admitted to the Birmingham General Hospital, where he died on the 24th March, he was interred on the 29th March 1924 in London Road Cemetery, Coventry.
NOTE: Frank’s mother, Arabella McKinvien, married John Wilkie Leishman in 1885 in Greenock, Lanarkshire, Scotland, John was born in 1862, they had two children, John who was born in 1887 and Elizabeth, who was born in 1889, both children were born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire. Arabella’s husband John died on the 25th January 1891 in Lanark.
Frank’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Coalville, Leicestershire into the Leicestershire Regiment and was allotted the service number 33563, at some point he was then transferred to the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), and was allotted the service number 80083, and finally he was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and allotted the service number 40136. It is therefore unknown with which Regiment, or on what date Frank first embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported to have been killed in action on the 24th April 1917, while serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in the Pas de Calais, France. Frank was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 24 Apr-17 – Firing Line MONCHY. Orders for general attack cancelled at 1.00 pm. Battalion to assault hill 0.2.d.8.5 at 4.00 pm. However owing to Brigade runner losing his way, orders regarding change in time of barrage did not arrive until after the action. 2 Companies detailed (“W” and “X”) made the attack (unsupported by our artillery) with great gallantry, and were faced by very heavy shell, Machine Gun and rifle fire. After stubborn resistance they were compelled to fall back on our original front line leaving 1 officer (2nd Lieutenant BYRNE) and 19 other ranks killed, 5 officers (Lieutenant’s TOOTH, REILLY, BARRY, HEGARTY and ROGERS) and 55 other ranks wounded and 37 other ranks missing in no man’s land. Thus, owing to there being no artillery support the task allotted to the Battalion was unaccomplished.