Frank Stafford
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frank Stafford was born in 1894 at Sutton in Ashfield, he was the son of Ralph a coal miner and Annie Maria Stafford née Marsden of 70 Brownlow Road, Mansfield. His father Ralph was born in 1846 at Arnold, his mother Annie Maria Marsden was born in 1852 at New Whittngton, Derbyshire they were married on 17th July 1881 at St Mary's Church Chesterfield , they went on to have the following children, Maria b1883 Hanworth Derbyshire, Jane Elizabeth b1885 Bulwell, Sidney 1888 Bulwell, Ralph 1889 Bulwell, William b1892 Nottingham, Frank b1893 Sutton Herbert b1895 Nottingham and Albert b1902 Carlton. In the 1911 census the family are living at 70 Brownlow Road, Mansfield and are shown as Ralph 65 yrs a coal miner, he is living with his wife Annie Maria 57 yrs and their children, Frank 17 yrs a coal miner, Herbert 14 yrs a coal mioner and Albert 9 yrs a scholar. Frank married his wife Elsie Sharpe (born 13th October 1895) on 15th December 1913 at the parish church at Warsop, they lived at 24 Albert Street, Warsop, they had the following children, Jane Millicent, born December 1913 and Frank born September 1915. They later lived at 9 Pilsley Court, Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield. Frank jnr was only born a fortnight before his father's death. Following his death his widow Elsie was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week which commenced on 17th April 1916.
Rifleman Frank Stafford enlisted on 18th August 1914 at Mansfield, he was aged 20 years and 25 days he served with the service number 12860 in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was however discharged from the Army on 8th October 1914 as unfit for military service. Later he re joined the 2nd battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, he landed in France on 19th May 1915 and was killed in action on 25th September 1915 having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 21/10/1915; Photograph of Frank and his widow. They had 2 children and he worked at Langwith Colliery: 13/04/1916; Roll of Honour Killed in action 25/09/1915 lived 9 Pilsley Court, Mansfield: Frank's brother, William was probably married to Violet Sharpe, Elsie's sister. Article published in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times 22nd October 1915 :- “On Monday morning, [18th October 1915] Mrs. Elsie Stafford, of 24, Albert-street, received information from the Record Office at Winchester, of the death of her husband, Rifleman Frank Stafford, who was killed in action, at a place not stated, on the 25th September. Mrs. Stafford is left with two children to mourn his loss. Deceased enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles since the declaration of war.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
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