Name
Frank Cecil Gardiner
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/03/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
200159
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bishop's Stortford memorials
Pre War
*1 Frank Cecil Gardiner was born in 1897 to James and Laura Gardiner and baptised on 5 September 1897 at Redenhall with Harleston and Wortwell, Norfolk.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Redenhall, Norfolk, but by the 1911 Census they had moved to 2 Bells Cottages, Farnham, Bishop's Stortford and Frank was working as a Carpenter (Estate) Assistant. They later lived at Wickham Hall, Bishop's Stortford. He married Mabel Jones in summer 1917 in Lanchester, Durham and they had a son James and lived at 20 Holmwood Grove, Harrowgate Hill, Darlington.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Bedford and served with 2nd Bn Bedfordshire Regiment. He died on 28 March 1918 during fierce fighting near Le Quesnoy, repelling a determined attack by the Germans who got to within 100 yards of British positions. They were ordered to withdraw under heavy machine gun fire and shelling as the Germans had taken villages on both flanks.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £22 and pay owing. Photo, biography and battle details on www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar
*1 An impressive biography, produced for the Royal British Legion and a copy can be found in our Archive here
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Kate Chenneour, Royal British Legion
