Name
Frank Christopher Denman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/07/1915
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
646
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
4th Bn.
'A' Coy,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAIDSTONE CEMETERY, KENT
1. OO. 142.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial
Pre War
Born in May 1894 in Bushey (Watford registration district), Frank Christopher Denman was one of two children born to Frank Turner and Emily Charlotte (née Cruickshanks) Denman of 19 Campbell Road, Maidstone. His parents were married in June 1893 at St Margaret’s, Westminster, London. His sister Ruby was born in the second quarter of 1896 and also registered in the Watford district. On the 1901 Census, he was aged 6 and lived in New Bushey, with his parents and one sibling.
Frank (Snr.) died on 30 October 1903 and three years later his mother re-married to a Louis Charles Ballinger, a printer’s machinist and photo engraver. The 1911 Census shows Frank (Jnr.) and his sister, Ruby, living with Charles and Emily Ballinger and their half-brother, Robin Ballinger aged 2, at 34 Haydon Road, Bushey. Frank was 17 and employed as an insurance clerk.
Frank moved to 35 Cauley Avenue, Clapham Common and, whilst at that address, married Dorothy Margaret Spivey on 21 November 1916 at St Thomas’ Church, Portman Square, Ealing. Dorothy never re-married after Frank’s death and she died on 18 January 1930 in Watford, and was buried 22 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Wartime Service
Frank had been a Corporal in the Officer Training Corps at Emmanual School, Wandsworth, London before joining the Territorial Force on 22 April 1912 for four years’ service in the U.K. He served at Home from 22 April 1912 until 26 January 1915 when, aged 20, he was appointed to a commission as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery.
He was appointed Adjutant to the 11th Brigade Royal Field Artillery on 1 April 1916, but was wounded accidentally on 28 April 1916 and sent to the 7th Stationary Hospital on 29 April 1916. He was returned to duty on 2 May 1916 and later killed in action on 16* August 1917.
There is a brief article, dated 20 February 1915, about Frank in the Watford Illustrated and an article about and Death announcement for him in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 August 1917. Also, an In Memoriam in the issue dated 17 August 1918.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Information also sourced from the Our Watford History website - Please visit www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
