Frank Spendlove
He was a hosiery hand in 1911 and following the same occupation when he enlisted in 1915.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Frank was the son of of James Frederick (also Fred) and Annie Elizabeth Spendlove (née Fulbrook)
His father James Frederick was born in 1869 at Gretton, Northamptonshire, and his mother Annie Elizabeth Fulbrook was born in 1864 at West Peckham, Kent. At the time of their marriage James lived in the parish of Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, and Annie in the parish of Peckham, Kent. They were married at Mereworth St Lawrence, Kent, on 13 April 1890; it was noted on the record of the Banns that they were ‘married in Mereworth parish church as the church of Peckham was in a state of restoration.’
According to information provided on the 1911 Census, James and Annie had had four children, one of whom had died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were Dorothy Annie b. 1891 Kings Cliffe Northampton (reg. Oundle), Frank b. 1896 baptised Oxton St Peter 14 June 1896, and Florence Mary b. 1903 who were both born in Oxton. The child who died may have been James William B Spendlove b. 1893 JAS reg. Oundle d. 1894 OND reg. Boston Lincs.
James, a butcher, and Annie were living on West Street, Kings Cliffe, Oundle, in 1891. Also in the household was sixteen-year old Herbert Steel (b. Castle Bytham, Lincs) a butcher's apprentice.
By 1901 James, a gardener (domestic), his wife and their two children, Dorothy and Frank, were living on Main Street, Oxton. They employed a live-in general domestic servant, who was from the village. Their second daughter, Florence, was born two years later.
The family was still living on Main Street, Oxton, in 1911; Frederick (sic) was now a farmer, Dorothy was a teacher (County Council) and Frank a hosiery worker.
Dorothy married Frank Kirkby (b. 1874) in 1923 and they had a son, Kenneth FS Kirkby, in 1927. The family was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at Forest Road, Oxton; Frank was a printer linotype operator. Their son married Gwendoline Kitchen in 1950 (reg. Southwell).
Florence married William E Severn (b. 1898) in 1925 and they were living on Main Street, Oxton, in 1939; William was a master butcher and farmer and Florence a sub-postmistress. Her father had died in 1939 (reg. JFM) and her mother Annie was living with them.
Annie Elizabeth died in 1952 aged 88 (reg. Southwell).
Dorothy Annie died in 1969 (reg. Southwell); her husband Frank predeceased her (1943 reg. Southwell).
Florence Mary died in 1987, the Probate record gave her address as Elmcroft Oxton. Her husband William predeceased her (1967 aged 69).
Frank Spendlove enlisted on 10 December 1915 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 21y 6m although he was about 19 years old having been born in 1896 (JAS). Frank, a hosiery hand, was living in Oxton village, Southwell, and named his father, Fred (sic), of the same address, as his next of kin.
Frank was posted to the 3rd line Depot then to the 7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 29 August 1916. He embarked at Folkstone on 11 July 1916 and disembarked at Boulogne the same day, reporting to the base depot at Etaples on 13 July.
He was killed in action on 1 July 1917 while serving with the 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 7).
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC Additional information: Son of James Frederick and Annie Elizabeth Spendlove, of Oxton, Southwell, Notts.
Nottingham Evening Post, 6 August 1917: ‘Local Casualties. Yesterday’s List. Killed. Sherwoods. Spendlove 203480 F (Southwell).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 July 1918, ‘Spendlove. In loving memory of our beloved and only son Frank, killed in action, July 1st, 1917. From his sorrowing father, mother, and sisters. Also Len, cousin of the above, killed in air raid May 19th, 1918. Fond memories ever clinging. Dorothy and Florrie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening News, ‘In Memoriam’, 5 June 1950: ‘Kirby. Frank. In memory of a dear husband and father who passed on June 4th, 1943. Ever in the thoughts of his wife and son.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated, RF (March 2026)
Photo of Frank Spendlove
Commemorated on the Arras Memorial (www.cwgc.org)