Name
Francis John Glenister
8 December 1895,
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
15322
Worcestershire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Abbots Langley memorials, Not on the Bovingdon memorials, Not on the Bourne End memorial
Wartime Service
Biography
Francis Glenister was born on 29th March 1896 at Bourne End, Bovingdon. He was the only son of Harry and Sarah Glenister. The couple later had two daughters, Hilda and Ivy, and in the 1901 and 1911 Census lived at Vicarage Lane, and 2 Vicarage Road, Kings Langley respectively. Harry had worked as a Foreman Butcher in 1901, but in 1911 was listed as an Insurance Agent. Fifteen-year-old Francis’ occupation was given as a Butcher in the 1911 Census.
By the time War broke out in August 1914 the family had moved to 12 Breakspeare Road Abbots Langley, and Francis was employed as an Asylum Attendant at the Leavesden Asylum. Francis underwent a Medical Examination at the St Pancras Club, London on 1st September 1914, and enlisted on the 3rd September with the 9th Worcester’s as Private 15322. He was listed in the Asylum Roll of Honour, which was printed in the Hertfordshire Advertiser on 17th October 1914, and was first mentioned in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in December 1914.
Francis joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 22nd June 1915 and landed at Gallipoli on 4th July, where he remained until 5th October. From Gallipoli Francis was despatched to Salonka in October 1915, and remained there until April 1916. He was then transferred to the Expeditionary Force Mesopotamia and served in that Theatre of War from April 1916 to 3rd May 1917. On 4th May 1917 he arrived in India and remained there until late in 1919. Francis contracted Malaria, whilst in India, and was admitted to the King George Hospital, Poona on 9th October 1919. As this was deemed attributable to War Service he was classified as 20% disabled. Francis returned to England and arrived at the Dispersal Unit at Purfleet on 8th December 1919. He was demobilised at Warwick on 4th January 1920 to 12 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley.
He married Clara Matthews in late spring 1920 and lived at 12 Breakspeare Road, Abbotts Langley.
He trained as a Nurse and was registered on 16 October 1925 . He then worked at the Leavesden Mental Hospital, Kings Langley, Herts. His home address was given as 36 Tanner's Hill, Abbots Langley, Watford, Herts.
Francis, his wife and two children, John and Kenneth, were living at Fairbourne, Horseshoe Lane, Watford, Herts on the 1939 Register at which time he was working as a Head Male Nurse for London County Council.
He died on 13 December 1963 at Peace Memorial Hospital, Watford.
Clearly Francis Glenister survived the War, as did his cousin Clement and uncle George
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
