Name
Frank William Beacon
16 July 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
19410
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Leonard's Church Lychgate (Survivors), Sandridge
Pre War
Frank William Beacon was the second son born to George Beacon and Sarah nee Pearce on 16th July 1885 , the birth was registered in Herstmonceaux, Sussex , England.
Frank was baptised on 4th October 1885 in Hailsham.
In 1891, Frank with his older brother Charlie (born 1882), his younger sister Elsie aged 1 and their parents were living at 4 Bretland Terrace in Rusthall New Town, near Speldhurst in Kent. Frank was a scholar and his father was working as a Cabinet Maker.
In the 1901 census Frank, aged 15, is living with his parents and siblings at 5 Lower Dagnall Street, St. Alban. Frank and older brother Charlie aged 18 are both working as Cabinet makers like their father. His younger siblings are brothers Frederick age 6 and Percy aged 3 years, as well as his sister Elsie aged ten.
His younger siblings had been born in St. Albans, so perhaps the family had moved back closer to his mother Sarah’s parents as she has been born in Lemsford , close to St. Albans.
By 1911 Frank is living away from his family in Watford , at 147B Chester Road , working as a cabinet maker/ repairer for a home furnishing store , whilst his parents George and Sarah, brothers Frederick and Percy and sisters Elsie and Kitty ( Kathleen) are in Sandridge village to the north of St. Albans.
His oldest brother Charlie had married in 1908 and was now living with his wife and son in High Wycombe.
Frank marries Elizabeth Mary Matthews in Watford on 19th July 1911, only a month after the 1911 census which was on 19th June.
Elizabeth had been born in the St. Albans area in November 1888 and was baptised at the parish church of St. Leonards in January 1889 , her parents Clara and Frederick Matthews. Perhaps Frank had met Elizabeth when visiting his parents in Sandridge or he had also lived there between 1901 and 1911 census being taken as we do not know when the family moved to Sandridge village.
Frank and Elizabeth's’ first son Frederick William George was born in Watford on 29th January 1913. He took as his first name that of his maternal grandfather and a middle name of his paternal grandfather.
Wartime Service
Franks service records show that he attested in Watford on 26th January 1916.
He was 29 years old and still working as a Cabinet Maker. The address details for his wife Elizabeth were Oxford Street, Lambourne, Berkshire.
On his papers is shows his prior service with 2nd Herts Battalion and Bedfordshire regiment as volunteer
He was 5ft 41/2 inches tall.
He transferred to the RAF on 1 April 1918.
After the war Frank was transferred to the RAF reserve on 7th October 1919 and discharged on 30th April 1920.
Additional Information
In the 1921 census Frank and Elizabeth are living in the parish of Bentworth near Alton in Hampshire. Frank is working as an Estate Carpenter and his son Frederick is in full time education. A second son was born to the couple later that year, Alick Francis born on 6th September 1921 and the birth was registered in the Alton district of Hampshire. From 1932 Frank, Elizabeth and Frederick now age 19, are on the Electoral Roll and their address is registered as Golsey Cottages, Tuesley Lane , Godalming in Surrey. They continue to live here until the 1939 register is made at the start of WW2. Frank and Elizabeth , with youngest son Alick are recorded under the Hambledon area , still at Golsey Cottages . Frank is an Estate engineer - listed as Heavy worker and an ARP Warden . His son Alick now aged 18 is a Carpenters Apprentice and an ARP first aider. Frederick the eldest son is living in Basingstoke and working as a Universal Grinder setter for Aero Instruments. Elizabeth, his wife died in the Eton area of Buckinghamshire in 1948 ( details to be confirmed) Frank died in 1977, aged 91 years and his death was recorded in the Ploughley area of Oxfordshire. He had grandchildren through his son Alick.
Acknowledgments
Sarah Burns
