Frank was born on 22nd October 1899 in Shipton, Yorkshire to parents Frank, a railway signalman and Ruth (nee Crabtree) - he was their second child recorded on the 1901 census, the family residing at 8 Nelson Street in Skipton. They had moved 4 streets away by the 1911 census and lived at 7 Duke Street; Frank Jnr attended school, his older sister worked in a factory and his father Frank still worked on the railway as a signalman, along with their border who worked as a railway porter.
Previously an office boy, Frank joined the Navy on 14th July 1915 as a Boy 2nd Class - his first posting was to HMS GANGES, the shore based training establishment in Shotley, Suffolk. He transferred to HMS PEMBROKE I for further training on 14th March 1916 and was posted out to his first and only ship HMS VANGUARD on 2nd May 1916 where he served aboard during the Battle of Jutland just two months after joining the dreadnought. The following year he was onboard sleeping when he was caught in the tragic explosion and killed aged just 17.
He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial as well as locally on the Skipton War Memorial.
#115-624/843
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 - FreeBMD
1901 & 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 388
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece 010 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
Photo courtesy of David Jackson
Memorial image courtesy of Jane Callaghan
Comments