Francis Middleton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Francis Middleton was born in 1887 the son of Mary Ann Middleton. Born 1849 in Cheshire, she died in 1900 aged 51 in the Doncaster Registration District. For the whole of his early life, Francis was an inmate at the Doncaster Workhouse (he was listed there on the 1891/1901and1911 censuses). Francis married Louisa Annie Ellis on 1st July 1912 at Hexthrope, Doncaster. They had three daughters - Myra born 26th September 1912, Carrie born 14th November 1915 and Vera born 3rd February 1918. The family lived at Brickyard Cottages, Walkeringham and, following Francis’s death, at Station Road, Misterton. With effect from 18/11/1918, Louisa was awarded a weekly pension of 29/7d for herself and three children.
Francis Middleton enlisted on 23rd February 1915 at Doncaster aged 27. He was posted to the 9th Battalion Yorks and Lancashire Regiment joining them at their Pontefract Depot on 25th February 1915. Landing in France on 27th August 1915, he was admitted to 48 casualty clearing station Rouen on 31st July 1916 with a left groin injury and was returned to England on 9th August 1916,treated at the Lord Derby Military Hospital at Warrington. After treatment and recuperation he returned to France on 10th June 1917. He received a gun shot wound to his wrist on 15th October 1917 and was returned to England and treated at Toxteth Military Hospital, Liverpool. After treatment and recuperation he returned to France on 20th March 1918 and posted to the 2/4th battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. He was killed in action on 22nd April 1918 and is buried Gommecourt British Cemetery No 2 Heburterne Grave Reference: V H 12
Nottinghamshire Archives, ref PR 25,538, Walkeringham St Mary ‘Gorham’s Diary’: 23 June 1918, memorial service for Pte F Middleton of Yorks and Lancasters.'
