2nd Lieutenant - Royal Tank Regiment - Service No. 176697
Frank Arthur Henry Cash was born on 21st February 1917 in Medway, Kent. His father was Frank Arthur Walter Cash, a Labour Master, Poor Law Officer, and his mother was Nellie Jane (née Kent). He first attended Gillingham County Boys School.
In 1932 Frank Cash joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station. In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Frank’s home address as 19 Lamorna Avenue, Gravesend. Whilst at the School, Frank was in Hill House and was the Senior Prefect in 1935-36. Frank took part in several School Drama Productions, including The Apple Cart in 1933, Macbeth in 1934 and Yellow Sands in 1935.
In 1936 Frank left the School, and went on to read Natural Sciences at King’s College, London. He graduated with honours in the B.Sc.(General) examination in June 1938 and again in June 1939 with a special honours degree in Zoology. In October 1939 Frank resumed his studies at the Institute of Education, and was successful in the examination for the Teachers Diploma held in June 1940.
In World War Two, Frank enlisted in the Royal Tank Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant, Service Number 176697. His Regiment took part in Operation Crusader, which was a military operation by the British 8th Army between 18th November–30th December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk.
Frank Cash was killed in action on 29th November 1941, age 24. He is remembered at the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt.
There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Also links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2115855/cash,-frank-arthur-henry/
https://kingscollections.org/warmemorials/kings-college/memorials/cash-frank-arthur-henry