Frank's Story.
Caress Frank Clare; V23/P98 – Was named in the Weaver Navigation Engineers Annual Report 28th Nov. 1918. “Frank Clare Caress, who after 6 months training was discharged from the Army then worked on Munitions for two years and afterwards became Engineer in the Mercantile Marine, died of pneumonia on the 20th Nov.”
C.W.C.G. Frank is not listed with the C.W.G.C., there are only 3 lads named Caress listed. Why should Frank not be listed with the Commonwealth War Graves?
Googling Frank Clare Caress brought the following; Manchester University War Memorial remembers Frank Clare Caress, Private, 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Died at Greenwich Hospital of illness due to active service, 20th October 1918. Son of Herbert Caress, 9 Moss Road, Winnington, Northwich. Born 1890 at Winnington. Educated at Winnington Park School; Wilton Grammar School; Elstow School, Bedford. Student Manchester University, 1910; Weaver Navigation, Northwich. Enlisted 5th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, Private; S. S. Irishman, Ship's Engineer.
Dr. James Peters from the University replied to my enquire about Frank and confirmed that Frank had registered as a Student in 1910 but did not complete his degree. Frank is named on the Public Memorial in the Main Quadrangle of the University in Oxford Road and on the Hulme Hall memorial which has closed access.
Ancestry has some scanned attestation documents for Frank, he enlisted on the 8th August 1914, he was a Civil Engineer. He was a tall lad at 6ft 2in with good vision & physical development, so it is a surprise to see that he was discharged, “Medically Unfit” on the 1st Feb. 1915. Another link was for the Dreadnought Seamen’s Hospital Admissions & Discharges (London) for 1826-1930 with a date of 21st Oct. 1918, that Frank dies of Flu/Pneumonia, having served on the SS Irishman.
N.A.M.C. list 20 medal cards for lads named Caress but not for a Frank Clare or Frank C. Caress. The discharge after 6 months does suggest he had not completed his training period and therefore would not have been posted to a Theatre of War and with that no medal card.
The 1911c records the Caress family living at 9 Moss Rd., Northwich, with Herbert Hd. 51 (Widower) Headmaster of C.C.C. Public Elementary School, born Yorkshire; Nora aged 22, Student at Univ. born Winnington; Frank Clare aged 20, Student at Univ. born Winnington; Hilda Margaret aged 18, no occupation, born Winnington.
Northwich Guardian, 29th Oct. 1918 and repeated 1st November 1918.
DEATH OF MR. FRANK CARESS WINNINGTON
The many friends in Northwich and district of Mr. Frank Caress, son of Mr. H. Caress, head master of Winnington Park School, learned with regret last week of his death in a Greenwich hospital. Mr. Caress, who was 27 years of age, was, at the outbreak of war a pupil under Colonel J. A. Saner, the engineer to the River Weaver Navigation. Immediately after commencement of hostilities he enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment and after about six months training was rejected on account of his eyesight. Determined to be of some patriotic service he went in for shell making on his return to civil life and worked most assiduously. Some months ago he secured an appointment in the Mercantile Marine and on a homeward voyage, which was complete last week, he was stricken with illness which developed into septic pneumonia. In May he married Florence May, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs R. Shilliday of the Cumberland Arms.
THE FUNERAL
The body was brought from Greenwich to the deceased’s home in Moss Road, Winnington, on Wednesday last week and the funeral took place on Thursday afternoon at Witton. There were marked manifestations of sympathy with the sorrowing father and also the young widow in their bereavement. The article continues, giving names of the attendees and who had sent flowers which included floral emblems from the crew of the deceased’s vessel.
Frank is buried in the Northwich Cemetery with other members of his family.
Probate information from 1935 records; Caress, Frank Clare, of 88 Leicester Street, Northwich, Cheshire, died Oct. 20th 1918 at the Greenwich Seaman’s Hospital, Greenwich, Kent. Probate London 28th Nov. to Florence Caress widow. Cheshirebmd records the marriage of Frank C. Caress/Florence M. Shilliday in 1918 in a Northwich Civil Marriage. Freebmd confirms the marriage in the June Q. Also listed at this date, of 1935, was the fathers probate, died 8th Nov. 1934, to daughters Nora and Hilda Margaret Caress, spinsters.
St Luke’s Winnington WW1 Memorial records a Frank Caress. The Northwich and District Heritage Society booklet “Northwich’s WW1 Roll of Honour” includes a Frank Caress but does not record any further detail other than that he is remembered at St. Luke.
C.W.C.G. The following was supplied by Mark Relf care of Steve Woodward; clause 5.3 Mercantile Marine (First World War) Mercantile Marine Services refers to those who, during the First World War, had signed on the books for a voyage on a British or Commonwealth registered merchant ship or fishing boat. We commemorate all sailors of the Commonwealth Mercantile Marine Services who died, while signed on for a voyage, as a direct result of enemy action or while detained by the enemy.
Research Bob H.