1/6 Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Frank Brain was born on 16 October 1895, one of the ten children of Tom and Emma Brain of Myrtle Cottage, Harry Hill, Drybrook. After leaving school he worked as a coal miner at the Lydney and Crump Meadow Colliery at Cinderford. He was a music lover – being a chorister at Holy Trinity Church, Drybrook and a member of Mitcheldean Brass Band. He was acknowledged as one of the first to volunteer from his workplace, in June 1915. He landed in France on 1 December 1915. During his time at the front he was a sniper.
Private Frank Brain was killed in action on 9 October 1917 aged 21 years. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. He is also remembered on the memorials in Holy Trinity Church, Drybrook, and Drybrook Memorial Hall.
Myrtle Cottage still stands, though perhaps not exactly as Frank would have remembered it. Quite recently the old wrought iron garden gate through which one could imagine Frank departing, never to return, has sadly been replaced.