• Homepage
  • Admissions
  • Strategy 2022-2027
  • Stanfield Prep
    • A Word From Our Headmistress
    • About Our Wonderful School
    • An Excellent Education
    • Unrivalled Facilities
    • Compassion & Confidence
    • Endless Opportunities
    • Out Of Hours Care
    • Learning Support
    • Key Information
  • Senior Boys
    • A Word From Our Headmaster
    • About Our School
    • Departments & Curriculum
    • Co-Curricular & Enrichment
    • Pastoral Care
    • Learning Support
    • Key Information
  • Senior Girls
    • A Word From Our Headmistress
    • About Our School
    • Departments & Curriculum
    • Co-Curricular & Enrichment
    • Pastoral Care
    • Learning Support
    • Key Information
  • Sixth Form
    • About Our Sixth Form
    • Boys’ Sixth Form
    • Girls’ Sixth Form
    • Academic Excellence
    • Leadership Opportunities
    • Co-Curricular & Enrichment
    • Extended Project Qualification
    • Pastoral Care
    • Careers
    • University Applications
  • Merchants+ Facility Hire and Children’s Activities
  • Calendar
  • Events
  • Latest News
  • Contact Us
  • Job Vacancies
  • Alumni & Development
  • SOCS Sports
  • Our Family
  • Stanfield Prep
  • Senior Boys
  • Menu Spacer ALWAYS KEEP IN MIDDLE
  • Senior Girls
  • Sixth Form
  • Admissions

MENU

Frank D Cole – In Memoriam

Written by Frank D. Cole                                                                               29th of December, 2015

Never a dull moment!

 In 1932, aged 11, I was elevated from the Litherland Council School to MTS and so came the first great change in my life.

Five years later in 1937, I emerged to seek work and so lighten the financial burden on my parents (Lorry-driver, factory-girl and part-time pianist).  I found a position as “office boy” in a specialist marine insurance company for a weekly pittance.

Boredom was my main problem and so days after my 18th birthday I joined the TA and only weeks after this I was embodied as a regular soldier.

Under the age of 20 and not possible for overseas posting but because I had a full driving licence I spent the next two years driving every sort of wheeled transport around gun and light sites in Merseyside and the Midlands.

I was sent to the OTC in Bristol in 1941 and came out as a very new young officer in May 1942. My first posting was to the 46th Infantry Division in Kent (part of Montgomery’s 12 Corps) which was in preparation to form the British North Africa Force and for this we embarked in December, leaving for Algiers. After landing in Algeria we waited for the second convoy with arms and transport before starting off eastwards, direction Tunis.

This first problem resolved, we went further into Libya to start training for a water landing. For this we, the 46th and 2 other British divisions (56 and 78), were to form the spearhead landing force of the 5th US Army.

This almost disastrous campaign due to lack of security on the US-side resulted in the Hermann-Göring-Division waiting for us, almost with glee.  After 3 weeks on the beach, other landings (First Guards Anzio) let us break out and, as planned, proceed northwards until eventually we arrived at the foot of Monte Cassino.  At this point, tired and depleted we reverted to Brit. 8th Army and were sent back to Egypt.

We were brought up to strength and the next stop was Palestine.  After arranging a temporary peace we were required in Italy and so “pack up again” and back to the mainland.  After many skirmishes and encounters our services were urgently needed in Greece so some of us were flown to Piraeus and the rest, more leisurely, to the northern border Macedonia.

Once more we were needed urgently back again in Italy to try to break through the German Gothic Line.  We did so, in the area of Forli / Faenza and then it was forwards to Austria where on VE-day we were already in the southern part of that country.  There we had the unpleasant task of returning 15,000 Cossack and 2,000 Hungarians to the Russians and only after this could we move further into our occupied area of Steiermark.  Here I was posted after a short time to Brit.Mil.Gov.

Life became once again peaceful and slowly less interesting and, trying to follow my desire for excitement, I volunteered for the Burma Frontier Force (BFF).  Called before the final selection board in Udine I and 2 others were returned, as talks on independence had already started and my eyes were not standard. This brought me back to Brit.Mil.Gov. again in Austria and, already 18 months over my release date and seeing no prospect of further interest I, reluctantly, decided I had to “bite the cherry” and return to civilian life.

Back in Liverpool, I renewed my marine insurance and was told that I would be going overseas for the Company very shortly.  In fact, this was exactly 11 months and in this period I imported and wed my Austrian fiancée from Graz, bought and repaired a bomb-damaged house reported back to the TA and lived for 5 weeks in my new house before embarking on 24th of April, 1948 on the MS Caledonia bound for Karachi via Bombay.

The voyage was very pleasant in comparison with earlier Troopship journeys and after 6 weeks in Bombay I was again in a coastal steamer for Pakistan.  Through the wisdom of Whitehall, Pakistan was divided into 2 halves – West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) with hostile India between.  Communication between was difficult but, after a while I managed to establish a small office in Chittagong in addition to my HQ in Karachi.  In the small seaport, now Capital of the new country (14th August, 1947) space was at a premium with every country and larger firm wishing to establish a post there.  Alone I managed to find a bed with Indian, Italian friends, also in hotels and finally in a large tent on the lawn of the Scind Club.  My office space was cramped and I shared a 16 sq.m. room with, in each corner, myself, Vickers Armaments UK, Gulf Oil, USA and the door.

After 12 months my wife joined me and, under threat, my Principals in Liverpool agreed to build a house for me, just before we left, after 3 years, to enjoy 6 months leave in Europe.  Business grew and the same pattern of 6 months leave after 3 years’ service until, after 10 years, I decided  to resign and take my small family back to England.

For my new employers, I was based in Manchester with a miserable inherited 3-men-office. This had to be changed and I enlarged my operations area to the whole of UK with connections in Vienna and Graz.  After 8 years of feverish activity, vacancies took place in the upper hierarchy but promises earlier made were ignored and so I resigned.

This time I changed the branch of insurance and was offered a post from a Lloyds Broker as Managing Director in their flourishing subsidiary in Zürich.  Here the world was my oyster and I took over and enlarged the international business with contracts in Sidney, Accra, Reykjavik, Hong Kong, Tennessee Valley Authority USA and other distant parts.  My frequent absences and, sometimes longer, led to my family break-up.  However, “business as usual” until my heart attack in 1978.  My London Principals, in the English manner felt that retirement and sanatorium was the only possible result.  And so, in 1981 (aged 60) I was asked to go.  This I did – but only for 4 days – for I then set up my own office, taking 90 % of the international business with me. Once more feverish activity in the world and this continued for another 25 years until my eyesight forced me to give up.

My second wife (Dresden) died 18 months ago and so I live alone in my house, 2000 feet high on the slope of the Albisberg very well looked after by my permanent staff of 2 ladies (German and Polish).  I still maintain vivid interest in world politics and finance and when I wish to travel, I am transported by one of my ladies in their car. I am just celebrating my 95th birthday and still look forward into the future.

My first wife returned to her birth place in Graz, my son and his American wife, living in Australia, all speak to me on Sunday mornings via Skype.  My daughter after 17 years in S. Africa, has gratefully returned to CH, living only 23 km away from here.

In conclusion I can only say that the best decision of my well-filled life was to come to Switzerland.

 

 

SHARE:

Previous Post All News Next Post

Latest News

  • Pre-loved uniform
  • External Examination results arrangements
  • MTGS Choir Italy Tour
  • CCF Army Annual Camp
  • School shortlisted for innovation award
View All News

Upcoming Events

  • Summer Holiday Club on July 7, 2022 8:00 am
  • Summer Holiday Club on July 8, 2022 8:00 am
  • Summer Holiday Club on July 11, 2022 8:00 am
  • Summer Holiday Club on July 12, 2022 8:00 am
  • Summer Holiday Club on July 13, 2022 8:00 am
View All Events

Join our family

admissions information sign up to our newsletter

SHARE:

Back to top

Instagram Feed

At Merchant Taylors' a commitment to academic exce At Merchant Taylors' a commitment to academic excellence for girls and boys is combined with a passionate focus on nurturing the whole person that every child has the potential to become.

Discover more about our school by clicking the link in our bio.
This summer holiday we are pleased to be hosting a This summer holiday we are pleased to be hosting a Sale Sharks Rugby Development Camp at Merchant Taylors’ School for under 7s to Under 12s on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 August.

The Rugby Development Camps are delivered by the award-winning @sharkscommunity team and offer young players the opportunity to develop alongside RFU qualified coaches with a wealth of experience in the community and academy game.

The experience of Sale Sharks’ coaches means that Rugby Development Camps provide the perfect balance of insight and intensity in a fun environment.

Find out more or book a place via the link in our bio.
When 15-year-old Mark Price went on the school Ger When 15-year-old Mark Price went on the school German exchange trip in 1962, little did he know he would meet someone he would still be friends with 60 years later. Mark, who now lives in Knutsford but originally lived near Formby, was paired up with Wolfgang Vogel when he visited Germany as a teenager, and the duo have been friends ever since, ‘through thick and thin’. 

Read more via our Alumni website, link in our bio.
We've had a great response so far to our pre-loved We've had a great response so far to our pre-loved uniform service and we still have hundreds of blazers, blouses, skirts, shirts, sports kit and accessories available. Please visit the old gym at the Boys' School if you need anything. #merchantsfamily
🚨Reminder🚨 If you’d like to come and brow 🚨Reminder🚨

If you’d like to come and browse from our huge pre-loved uniform collection the Old Gym located at the boys’ site will be open from 9am-3pm today. 

Anyone who wishes to take advantage of this service is welcome to do so without prior appointment or charge.
Our exciting, specialist two-day Cricket Camp is t Our exciting, specialist two-day Cricket Camp is taking place on the 24 and 25 August and is open for boys and girls aged 9-14. 🏏

The sessions will take place in our outdoor cricket nets and focus on seam and spin bowling followed by all aspects of fielding and batting.

Children will benefit from working with with former Lancashire Academy Director Gary Yates, improving on all aspects of their game.

Click the link in our bio to find out more or to book.
We currently have a number of positions available We currently have a number of positions available to join our team at Merchant Taylors' School including:

Teaching Assistant (Level 3)
Development & Alumni Relations Assistant
Senior IT Technician
IT Technician

To find out more about any of these roles, or to apply please click the link in our bio.
A #ThrowbackThursday to our Year 10 boys' final Sp A #ThrowbackThursday to our Year 10 boys' final Spanish lesson of the year. 

Pupils joined Dr Goodwin and Sr Rubia to cook a 'tortilla española' during the lesson following the traditional recipe and all turned out well!

¡Qué rico!
We have had more than 1,000 items of pre-loved uni We have had more than 1,000 items of pre-loved uniform kindly donated by parents across the school covering boys and girls of all ages.

From Monday these will be available from the Old Gym located at the Boys' School daily from 9am to 3pm. Any families who may wish to take advantage of this service are welcome to do so without prior appointment or charge. 

If you have any uniform that you no longer require and would like to donate, they too can be dropped off at the Old Gym.

Tomorrow we would welcome support from any pupils or parents as we organise all stock and prepare for Monday. If you would like to assist please contact Mrs Byrne via c.byrne@merchanttaylors.com.
Merchant Taylors' image

LINKS
Intranet
Calendar
Policies
Firefly
Contact

 
Join Our Team
News
Events
Governance

ADDITIONAL INFO
Disclaimer
Privacy Policy
GDPR document
Cookie Usage
Terms & Conditions
Website Credits

Admissions Enquiries: 0151 949 9366
Primary School: 0151 924 1506
Senior Girls: 0151 924 3140
Senior Boys: 0151 928 3308
Sports Centre: 0151 949 9355

The Merchant Taylors’ School
Liverpool Road
Crosby
Liverpool
L23 0QP

Our social links

© The Merchant Taylors’ Schools, Crosby
Company No: 6654276
Registered Charity No: 1125485

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT