Name
Frank Trevor Wakeman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
4th Squadron and 5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St Paul's Church, Bushey, Berkhamsted Collegiate School Memorial
Pre War
Born in 1898 and baptised in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, on 28 May 1898, Frank Trevor Wakeman was the eldest son of Frank John Wakeman and Edith Margaret (nee Highes) Wakeman. At the time of the baptism, the family was living at ‘The Dene’ in Four Oaks, , Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire and his father was working as an insurance manager. His parents had been married in 1891 in the registration district of King’s Norton in Worcestershire.
The family was still living at The Dene at the time of the 1901 census. Frank (Snr.) and Edith were 34 and 30 years old respectively and Frank was three years old. Frank (Snr.) was still employed as an insurance manager. The birthplaces were given as Balsall Heath, Worcestershire, for Frank (Snr.), Harborne in Staffordshire for Edith (both of which are on the outskirts of Birmingham), and Sutton Coldfield for Frank. Also present were two domestic servants.
By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to ‘The Dene’ (now numbered 28) in Grange Road, Bushey. Those present included Frank’s younger brothers, John Dennis and Arthur Stuart, who were nine and one year old respectively, and Ada Thompson, who was 45 years old and described as a widow and gentlewoman visitor. Also present were two domestic servants, a cook and a nurse. The form was signed by Frank J Wakeman. Frank and his parents were not present and were at the Solent Cliffs hotel, Cliff Cottage Road in Bournemouth. It is assumed they were there on holiday.
Edith lived to the age of 84 and died on 20th June 1954 at Leamington Park Hospital in Aston. Frank (Snr.) died, aged 62 in 1928. There is an entry in the National Probate Calendar for 1928, which reads: “WAKEMAN Frank John of 48 Gracechurch-street London died 18 August 1928 at the Oxhey Golf Club Hertfordshire Administration London 25 October to Edith Margaret Wakeman widow. Effects £964 16s. 6d. Revoked 23 January 1929”
Wartime Service
Frank Trevor Wakeman enlisted with the London Regiment as Private 3754 with the 28th Battalion. He later transferred to the 5th battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, seconded to the Royal Flying Corps with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He then joined the 4th squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and served in France as a Lieutenant before being killed in action on 30 October 1917. He was entitled to the British and Victory medals, his qualifying date being 11 January 1916.
Frank is remembered with honour at the Arras Flying Service Memorial, which commemorates almost 1,000 airmen of the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Royal Air Force, who were killed on the Western Front and who have no known grave. He is also commemorated on the Bushey memorial and at St Paul’s Church in Bushey and on the Berkhamstead School War Memorial.
The following is an article from Flight magazine, dated 8 November 1917: “Lieutenant Frank Trevor Wakeman, Royal Warwickshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Frank T Wakeman of ‘The Dene’, Grange Road Bushey. He was educated at Cambridge House School, Margate and West Buckland School, North Devon. He joined the Artists Rifles in April 1915 and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in October. He went to France the following December and was severely wounded in Feb 1916. After six months in hospital and convalescence, he rejoined his regiment and was shortly afterwards transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He spent the winter of 1916 -17 in Egypt and on returning to this country in May obtained his ‘wings’ and in the same month went to the Front. He was promoted to Lieutenant in July, in which month he was again wounded. His flight commander speaks of him as a valuable pilot.”
There is an entry for Frank in the National Probate Calendar for 1918, which reads: "WAKEMAN Frank Trevor of The Dene Grange-road Bushey Hertfordshire lieutenant Royal Warwickshire regiment attached R.F.C. died 30 October 1917 in France Administration London 25 February to Frank John Wakeman insurance manager. Effects £262 1s. 8d."
His parents continued to live at ‘The Dene’ in Grange Road until about 1915, when they moved to 48 Gracechurch Street, E C London.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
