Frank East
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frank was born in 1898. In 1901, he was living with his mother and four siblings at ‘Inhamfield House’, Main Street, Gunthorpe. By 1911, Frank was living with his brother in law, sister Mary and many others at Crow Park Farm, Burton Joyce. Frank’s father was Francis John East who was born at Barlborough, Derbyshire in 1864. He died on 25th October 1900 aged 36 in Woodstock Cape South Africa (possibly a casualty as a sergeant in the Boer War). His mother Mary Ellen ‘Nellie’ (née Radley) East was born in 1865 at New York, USA and died aged 43 in 1908. They had four other children: Mary Ellen East was born in July 1888 and married Thomas William Tomlinson of Burton Joyce. She died in December 1962 at Middleton, Lancashire. They had three children. John William East was born in 1890 at Cuckney, Nottinghamshire. He served in WW1. He died in September 1967 at Malvern, Worcestershire. Francis Evelyn East was born on 17th March 1892 at Worksop, Nottinghamshire. He served with the Liverpool Regiment. He died at Bingham Nottinghamshire. in 1937. His spouse was Iris May Wakelin. Sarah Gladys East was born at Bevercotes, East Retford Registration District, Nottinghamshire, in October 1893. In 1911 aged 17, she was working as a typist.
Frank was an apprentice merchant seaman who signed up in London on 2nd July, 1912. In 1915 aged 17, he was serving on Queen Elizabeth, a three masted sailing vessel launched in 1889. He was indentured to the ship's master, Samuel Quayle, who died in the same incident. In the Death At Sea Register his death is recorded, 'Supposed Drowned, Ship Missing', on 21st December 1915. Queen Elizabeth had set sail for Santos on the 20th December 1915 from Liverpool. She was last contacted on the 21st December five nautical miles South West of Tuskar Rock, a group of rocks topped by a light house six miles off the south east coast of County Wexford Ireland. The British Registry entry closed as ‘vessel missing’ on 5th July 1916. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have confirmed that the ship was lost through a storm and not as a result of enemy action. He therefore does not qualify for war casualty status.
On Frank’s death, Letters of Administration were granted to his sister Mary Tomlinson. He had effects of £327/1s/5d. This page was researched by Richard Mills who notes 'I applied to have his name put on the merchant seamen memorial on Tower Hill in London but he did not qualify as his death was not a result of enemy action. He was part of the war effort and should be on the Nottingham memorial.'
