The story of Frank Reginald Froggatt, a chorister from Derbyshire who served in World War One, has been uncovered by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga. Froggatt, born in Eyam in 1888, had a significant musical career before enlisting in 1914.
Froggatt, who became a choirmaster and toured the world with Dr Henry Coward's choir, was affectionately known as "The Cherub" by fellow choir members. He later became a tenor soloist at Exeter Cathedral, a prestigious musical post.
He enlisted in September 1914 alongside his three brothers and served with the 1/4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Froggatt rose to Lance Corporal and helped run a field library for soldiers in Mesopotamia. He was killed in action on 3 February 1917, near Kut-al Amara in what is now Iraq, reportedly by a sniper.
Olusoga discovered Froggatt's story while researching names on Eyam's war memorial, utilising a new digital tool called Military Lives from Findmypast. This tool links war memorial inscriptions with historical records and newspaper archives.