Frank Mellor 1899-1918

Frank Mellor

Born:
9th February 1899 Silkstone, Baptised 30th April at Silkstone All Saints

Son of:
Senosta Mellor b.1872 Silkstone d.1925 Silkstone aged 53
1911: High Street, Silkstone, age 38, Colliery Engineman
married Q3 1898 to
Rebecca Womersley b.1876 Chapeltown d.1935 Silkstone

Position in family:
Eldest of 5 children 
1. Frank b.1899 WW1 Accidently Killed
2. Ben b.1900 d.1902
3. Emma b.1904 d.1992
4. Ezra b.1907 d.1908
5. Miriam b.1908 d.2001

Home address, age and occupation:
1901: High Street, Silkstone age 2
1911: High Street, Silkstone age 12 Scholar
1918: High Street, Silkstone age 19 Colliery Rope Runner

Marriage:
Unmarried

Military Service:
Enlisted: 26th April 1918, Barnsley at the age of 18 years
Regiment and Battalion: 3rd Btn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding)
Service number and rank: 40517 Private

Personal information:
5 feet 4½ inches tall, weighed 122½ pounds, chest 34 inches, with auburn hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion

Death:
26th August 1918 aged 19
Buried at: Silkstone All Saints
Grave Reference: South of Chancel

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Mrs. Rebecca Mellor, of High St., Silkstone.

Remembered:
Silkstone War Memorial, Martins Croft, Silkstone
Silkstone All Saints, British Legion Memorial Plaque WW1 & WW2 



Notes:
Frank died on 26th August 1918 at 10.45 am at Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne from self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the left side of chest. According to witness reports, it seems he shot himself whilst cleaning his gun, and the Coroner's court concluded that he "died from effects of gunshot wounds self-inflicted but evidence does not show whether by accident or design."

 

Close up of the inscription on the Mellor family gravestone in Silkstone Churchyard

With special thanks to late Rosemary Lee of the Roggins Local History Group, and Heritage Silkstone who hold Rosemary's archive of research into the men remembered on Silkstone War Memorial.
 
Additional research by Pete Schofield