MANDERS Francis George

Note:
Francis Manders was registered at birth as Frank Charles and appears thus in the two censuses (1901, 1911) in which he is shown.  After that (marriage document, all military documents, war memorial) he is shown as Francis George.  There is no doubt that these are one and the same person, as each was born in Shipston in 1892, and each is the son of Thomas Manders, bricklayer.

Francis Manders was born in Shipston-on-Stour in 1892 , his father Thomas a bricklayer. He was at home in 1901 and 1911, his occupation shown as being at a printer’s on the latter date.  In 1915 he was living in Blockley when he married Annie Box, a resident of the village.  A son was born the following year.  At that time Francis was working as a sawyer.

His service documentation has not survived but other sources reveal he enlisted in Birmingham, serving first with the Lancashire Fusiliers before transferring to the Machine Gun Corps.  He is likely to have been one of the many who were transferred from infantry units to the newly-formed Corps while serving in France.  Francis lost his life in action in October 1918, only a month before the armistice.  His widow remained in Blockley after the war and in 1921 married again there, to George Alonzo Freeman.

From the Medals Card and Corps medals roll:
Francis G Manders, Machine Gun Corps, Private, 116769, awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, killed in action 27/10/18

From Soldiers’ Effects:
Francis George Manders, 38th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, L/Cpl, 116769, died 27/10/18 in action, France, £22 5s 11d (£7 8s 8d to widow Annie, £14 17s 3d to son Francis) (includes £8 10s 0d War Gratuity)