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Frank Thomas Sims
Frank Thomas Sims was born in Frampton on 10 March 1886 to Fanny Sims. He was brought up by his maternal grandparents, David and Elizabeth Sims, at their home on Perryway, and baptised privately alongside their youngest son on 7 February 1889. In 1891 his mother, Fanny, was working as a cook for General Francis Lock of the Bombay Staff Corps in Richmond. By 1901, Frank had also gone into domestic service, working as the hall boy at Fretherne Court. He later became an ostler at the Bell Hotel, Frampton, where his job was to look after the horses belonging to the guests. Frank was a labourer when enlisting on 5 January 1915 at Stroud. He joined the Army Service Corps at Aldershot a week later and, with a reference from his previous employer at the Bell Hotel, was appointed on 25 May as a farrier/driver. By 14 June he had been promoted to acting farrier corporal, serving in the UK until the following year. He then embarked for France to join the 29th Division which was being redeployed to France, via Egypt, after its evacuation from Gallipoli. He remained in France until 29 August 1918, later serving with the 3rd Division Supply Train, and at one stage reprimanded for branding the wrong number on a horse. On his return to the UK he served with the Northern Command Supply Train, until being transferred to the Reserve on 17 July 1919. Frank received the British War Medal and Victory Medal and his service appears to be commemorated on the plaque in the village hall under 'T. Sims'. He was granted leave from 28 October to 7 November 1917 and on 1 November he married Elizabeth Gertrude Mary Pearce at the Wesleyan Chapel, Eastington. Their home was at Cress Green in the same village. In 1939 Frank was a public works labourer. Frank Thomas Sims was buried in the parish churchyard at St Michael and All Angels on 16 October 1951. |