Frank Lupton was born 9 July 1892 at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland, the eldest son of three children of William Joseph Lupton, a coal hewer, and his wife Annie Webster. By 1901 the family had moved to 89 Severn Street in nearby Hirst: William Joseph Lupton was probably working in the Ashington Colliery. Better prospects in Canadian mines would lead him in May 1912 to leave his family and sail for Quebec and ultimately Sydney, Nova Scotia, with fellow miner William S. Lupton, probably a younger brother and also married.
Frank Lupton attended Blyth Secondary School, and then went on to Bede College from 1913 to 1915 to obtain a teaching qualification. He did not complete his second year as he was by then on military service.
Already a professional musician by the age of 19 in 1911, he gave a solo piano performance at Ravensworth Park Camp on 13 October 1914 to B Company Bede men past and present who had gathered in the Y.M.C.A. marquee there for a variety production of monologues, songs and recitations. Like all Bede men, during his time at the college he was also a member of B Company, 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (T.F.), serving as Private.
By March 1916 Lupton had re-joined 8 D.L.I. and had been promoted to corporal. By 25 October of that year he had trained and been commissioned as a temporary lieutenant (attached), and was formally transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment on 27 January 1917. It was with the 10th (Service) Battalion of that regiment, 63rd Brigade, 37th Division, that he was serving when he was killed in action on 25 April 1917 during an early phase of the Battle of Arras. His body was never recovered.
Second Lieutenant Frank Lupton is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. His campaign medals were sent out to his father in Canada. He is also remembered on war memorials at Blyth Secondary School (now closed), three war memorials (1, 2, 3) in Ashington, and on the Bede College 1914-1918 Cross, Plaque, and Roll of Honour.