Frank's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Frank Wadsworth was born in Congleton in 1882, the son of Emma or Emily (née McCready) and Frederick Wadsworth. In 1891, nine year old Frank was living at 43 Oliver St, Openshaw, Manchester, with his parents and siblings Lotty McCready (11) and Emily (3).
By 1901 Frank's mother had died and the family had moved to 5 Eastgate, Macclesfield; later that year, on 17 November 1901, Frank's father was married to Elizabeth Mann at St Michael's Church, Macclesfield. The couple later moved to 10 Preston St, Macclesfield.
On 22 December 1906, Frank married Margaret Massey at St George's Church, Charlestown, Salford, and the couple set up home in Salford. Although Frank had been working as a painter when he got married, by 1911 he had found employment as an electric crane driver at a timber yard. At that time Frank and Margaret were living at 24 Rosa Street, Pendleton, Salford, and had two children: Frederick (born 6 February 1909) and William (born 8 August 1910). The couple had two more children: daughter Lottie, born on 8 August 1912 and another son, Frank junior, completed the family on 3 November 1915.
After Frank's death, the family was split up. In 1921, Lottie was living with her uncle and aunt, David and Lottie Plant, at 76 Orrell Street, Seedley, Pendleton. Frank junior was living with his maternal grandparents, Samuel and Susannah Massey and three of their adult children, at 8 Birley Street, Salford. The location of the two older children and their mother in 1921 is unknown.
MILITARY SERVICE
Frank was living in Seedley, Manchester when he enlisted in Manchester. He served in Platoon XIII, Company D, 2nd Battalion of the 5th Manchester Regiment.
In March 1918 the 2nd/5th Bn Manchester Regiment was somewhere in the region of Cartigny, France. On the 20th, the war diary entry was "Quiet. It is considered likely that the enemy will begin his offensive tomorrow." - and so it proved. The diary entry for 4.45am on the 21st March stated "Enemy bombardment opens on our front, with a large proportion of gas shells."
It is not known how Frank met his death, but on 22nd May 1918 it was officially reported that he had been missing since 21st March. Enquiries as to his whereabouts were sent to the Joint War Organization (Red Cross and Order of St John) on 2nd August 1918 and again on 20th November 1918 but it was later assumed he had lost his life on or after 21st March 1918.
It is not known how Frank met his death, but on 22nd May 1918 it was officially reported that he had been missing since 21st March. Enquiries as to his whereabouts were sent to the Joint War Organization (Red Cross and Order of St John) on 2nd August 1918 and again on 20th November 1918 but it was later assumed he had lost his life on or after 21st March 1918.
COMMEMORATION
L/Cpl Frank Wadsworth is commemorated on Panel Ref. 64 to 67 of the Pozieres Memorial.
In Macclesfield, L/Cpl Frank Wadsworth is commemorated on the Park Green and Town Hall war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages, Deaths
Cheshire Parish Marriage Registers (Find My Past): St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield
Manchester Parish Marriage Registers (Ancestry): St George's Church, Charlestown, Salford
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Find My Past)
WWI, Joint War Organisation Enquiries: Missing, Wounded and Dead Personnel (Naval and Military Press, Forces War Records)
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.