More about Frank Joseph Traynor

For reasons unknown this man is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour.

Frank Traynor   9237   Black Watch

DUNDEE SERGEANT DESCRIBES

GREAT CHARGE BY 1st BLACK WATCH.

“A LESSON TO THE REST OF THE ARMY.”

To the Black Watch’s already long list of honourable engagements must be added the wonderful charge of the 1st Battalion at Ypres on Sunday, 9th inst.

A stirring description of that remarkable feat of arms is given by Sergeant Frank Traynor, of C Company, a Dundonian, in a letter dated 14th inst., addressed to his cousin, Mr John Ireland, 13 Victoria Street, Dundee.

The letter is as follows :^__

“I suppose you have read in the papers about my regiment, the 1st Black Watch, making a great charge on the 9th, in which we lost more than three-parts of our men?  All who got back, myself included, are the luckiest men in the world.

“When the word ‘Advance!’ was given our first line went over the parapet like one man, and when they had gone 100 yards our second line followed, and when they reached German lines, which were about 350 yards away, our third line went.  I was one of the third line.  Well, the first and second lines got to the German lines, but those who got there never came back, for they were all killed.

Congratulations.

“ I went on leading my platoon until I was the only one running.  Then I thought it was time to get down, for if I had gone any further, I should be sure to have been laid out.  I saw a hole made by a shell, and into this I jumped and waited till it was dark.  While I was there shells were bursting all around me, and every minute I was expecting to get one to myself, but my luck was in, and after lying about 50 yards from the Germans I got back to our lines about 9 p.m.

“ What a name we have made for the way we charged.  Nearly all the generals round about here have come to thank us.  They say it was a lesson to the rest of the army.”

Dundee Courier 20th May 1915