Frank Betteridge
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frank Betteridge had 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He was born in Church Gresley Derbys in 1888 the son of Lewis John and Sarah Betteridge. The family left Church Gresley around 1890 to the Steetley area and by 1901 were living in Colliery Row, Whitwell. In 1909 Frank Betteridge married a Worksop girl called Clara Starkey, in Worksop and found accommodation at 14 Denis Street, and employment as a coal miner. Frank’s parents had also moved to Worksop living at 83 Newgate Street.
Pte. Frank Betteridge Worksop Guardian 29 June 1917 Another Worksop man whose death we have to record is Pte. Frank Betteridge, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Betteridge, 83, Newgate Street, and husband of Mrs. Clara Betteridge, 51 Creswell Street. He was reported “missing” on April 27th, but this week his wife has received an official communication from the War Office stating that he was killed in action on April 23rd. All this time his wife has been hoping against hope, so that her sorrow is the more poignant. Pte. Betteridge was a fine type of man and his Captain writes of him that he was a soldier who was not only liked by his comrades, but by officers and men alike. He never had a better man under him and he felt sure that a soldier, who was so well-conducted, must have been a good man at home. Pte. Betteridge was 30 years of age, and leaves three small boys. He enlisted on August 19th, 1914, being one of the first in Manton miners to respond to the call. He joined the Nott’s and Derby’s, and took part in the Dardanelles Expedition, where he was wounded, but was treated abroad. The last time he was at home was June, 1915, and since June last year he had been in France. Singularly enough he wrote a very cheery letter to his wife the day before he was killed. Letters have been received by Mrs Betteridge from several of his comrades, one of whom expressed the belief all along that he was a prisoner of war, and would turn up at the end of the war. His brother, Pte. J. Betteridge, Sherwood Foresters was mentioned in despatches for his conduct in the Dublin Rebellions, and another brother, Pte. Albert Betteridge, is in France. The sympathy of the general public will be extended to his widow and children, and to the parents in the loss of a gallant son.
On the Worksop Priory Church memorial there are two F Betteridges, one in the South Stafford Regiment and the other in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby). There is no record of the death of an F Betteridge serving with the Sherwood Foresters in the Commonwealth War Graves or Soldiers died in the Great War. However, the Frank Betteridge of the South Staffs Regt was formerly 12843 of the Sherwood Foresters, as shown in his Medal Index Card, so it is highly likely that this is one and the same man, Pte Frank Betteridge, 43048/12843, 8th Service Bn South Staffordshire Regt, died 23rd April 1917
