Name
Frank Weeden
26th January 1888.
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1916
28 years.
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
15868
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Battalion.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Kings Walden, We are not aware of any memorial in Ley Green
Pre War
Sidney Frank Weeden was born in Ley Green, Kings Walden, Hertfordshire on 26th January 1888 the son of Mary Weeden (B 1865 in Pirton, Herts.)
1891 Census records Sidney Frank aged 3, living with his mother Mary, elder sister Daisy May 7, at his grandparents Frederick and Sarah Ann Weeden’s home, Want’s End Cottage, White Hall Lane, Kings Walden, Herts.
His grandfather’s occupation is given as, Coal Dealer.
Frank attended Kings Walden National School from April 1891 to March 1900, when aged 12 he left school to start work.
1901 Census records him as Frank aged 13, working as a Farm Labourer, living with his widower grandfather and younger brother John 10, at Want’s End Cottage, Kings Walden, Herts.
By 1911 Frank is still living with his now retired 73-year-old grandfather and younger brother now recorded as Hubert John 19, in Kings Walden, Herts. Both brothers are working as Farm Labourers.
Wartime Service
Volunteering on the outbreak of war, he enlisted in Hitchin, Herts. Posted to the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 15868.
On completion of his training he landed in France with his Battalion on 30th August 1915. Seeing action on a number of fronts.
Frank was Killed in Action on Wednesday 19th April 1916, aged 28. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing. Panel 31 and 33.
Additional Information
His effects of £2-11s-4d, pay owing and £7, War Gratuity went to his mother Mrs Mary Ewington. Some documents have him as Sidney Frank Weeden. The memorial plaque in St Mary’s Church, Kings Walden has him as Frank Weedon it should read Weeden.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
