First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield

Frank Herbert GARDNER (1895–1917)

Some of this information is repeated under the next entry for Frank’s brother Jack Gardner

Frank Herbert Gardner was born in Headington in 1895, the son of Charles Gardiner or Gardner (born in Headington in 1858/9, registered first quarter) and Mary Ann Walker (born in Wheatley in 1850, registered third quarter). His parents were married in the Headington registration district in the second quarter of 1881, and had seven children:

• Walter Joseph Gardner (born in Headington in 1881, registered fourth quarter)
• William Henry Gardner (born in Headington on 23 July 1883 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 30 September 1883)
• Frederick Charles Gardner (born in Headington on 15 May 1886 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 25 July 1886)
• John Bernard Gardner, known as Jack (born in Headington on 5 July 1888 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 30 September 1888)
• Fanny Caroline Sarah Gardner (born in Headington on 14 February 1891 and privately baptised on 14 April 1891)
• Christopher Robert Gardner (born in Headington on 14 July 1892 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 16 October 1892)
• Frank Herbert Gardner (born in Headington on 9 September 1895 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 July 1896)

Frank’s father was a bricklayer’s labourer, and by the time of the 1891 census the family were living in New High Street (probably No. 63). His father was away on census night in 1891, and his wife was in their New High Street home with their first five children.

At the time of the 1901 census, all the family were at home, and Frank was five years old. They were still in New High Street in 1911, when Frank (15) was working as a general errand boy, and it looks as though they were then living at No. 62. The house was now in the new All Saints’ parish.

In the First World War Frank Herbert Gardner served as a Private in the ill-fated 1st/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 202151). He was killed in action in Belgium on 22 August 1917 at the age of 20. He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 96 to 98) and on the roll of honour of All Saints’ Church.

His brother Jack was killed six months later on 22 March 1918.

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Postscript

Frank’s parents

• Mrs Mary Gardner died at her New High Street home at the age of 75 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 20 October 1925.

Frank’s father

• Charles Gardner died at the age of 78 in the London Road Hospital (The Laurels, formerly Headington Workhouse) on 22 September 1936. He was described as a builder’s foreman at the time of his death.

Frank’s siblings

• John Bernard Gardner, known as Jack (born in Headington in 1888) was also killed in the First World War: see separate entry