First World War in Headington and Marston
New Marston War Memorial

Frank GREEN (1884–1916)

Frank Green was born in New Marston in 1884, the youngest son of Samuel James Green (born in Kennington, Berkshire in 1842/3 and baptised there on 5 March1843) and Elizabeth Sarah Sibley (born in Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset in 1846, registered second quarter).

His parents were married in the Woolwich Registration District in the first quarter of 1871 and had eight children:

• Samuel Arthur Green (born in Wonford, Devon in 1871, registered St Thomas district fourth quarter)
• Herbert Charles Green (born in Cosham/Hilsea, Hampshire in 1873, registered Portsea district third quarter)
• Florence Elizabeth Green (born in Chiseldon, Wiltshire in 1874, registered Highworth district fourth quarter)
• Walter Charles Green (born in Wroughton, Wiltshire in 1876, registered Highworth district fourth quarter)
• Edith Jane Green (born in Crudwell, Wiltshire in 1878, registered Malmesbury district fourth quarter)
• George Edward Green (born in Whitehill, Painswick, Gloucestershire in 1880, registered Stroud district second quarter)
• Louisa Green (born in Stroud, Gloucestershire in 1882, registered Stroud district fourth quarter)
• Frank Green (born in New Marston, registered in Headington district fourth quarter of 1884).

At the time of the 1871 census Frank’s newly-wed parents were lodging in Devon at Old Abbey Cottages, Topsham Road, Heavitree with the family of Isaac Hawkins, a gardener, and his laundress wife Eliza. Frank’s father, Samuel James Green, was then in the Royal Horse Artillery. They were still in that area at the end of the year when their first son Samuel was born.

They were living near Portsmouth in 1873 and then in three different villages in Wiltshire (Chiseldon, Wroughton, and Crudwell) from 1874 to 1878.

By the middle of 1880 they had moved to Painswick in Gloucesershire, and the 1881 census shows them living at Salmon’s Mill there. Frank’s father, now with six children, had left the army and was working as a coachman.

Shortly before Frank’s birth near the end of 1884 his parents settled in New Marston. The 1891 census shows them living in Thanet Cottage, William Street (now numbered 19). Frank was then a schoolboy of six, and his father was a groom and gardener. His brother Herbert (18) was working as a moulder, and Walter (14) as a general labourer. His sister Florence (16) had gone into service, and was living as a kitchenmaid at Dr Ince’s house at Christ Church.

In 1901 Frank (16) was working as a page at Jesus College and spent the night there. His parents were still living in William Street, but the only child still at home was Louisa. Frank’s father was now just working as a gardener.

The 1911 census shows that Frank (25) was still working as a college servant, but now he was living at home with his parents at Thanet Cottage, William Street. Also living in the house was his sister Mrs Louisa West (28) with her husband and child. Frank’s father (67) was still working as a jobbing gardener.

Frank’s mother, Elizabeth S. Green, died at the age of 68 in the second quarter of 1914 in the Headington registration district.

♥ In the second quarter of 1915 Frank Green married Elizabeth Purcell Humphreys (born in 1883/4, registered Oxford first quarter of 1884) in the Headington Registration District. They lived at 30 Rectory Road in St Clement’s (then called Pembroke Street) and do not appear to have had any children.

In the First World War Frank Green served as a Private in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (Service No. 5838). He was killed in action at the at the Somme in France at the age of 32 on 7 July 1916.

He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 8C, 9A, and 16A) and on the New Marston War Memorial on the Marston Road, Oxford.

He left £144 11s. 4d. in his will, and administration was granted in Oxford to his wife, Elizabeth Purcell Green.

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Postscript

Frank’s father

• Samuel Green died at the age of 76 in 1919 (registered fourth quarter) in the Headington registration district.

Frank’s widow

• Mrs Elizabeth Purcell Green was still living at 30 Rectory Road in east Oxford just after the war.

Frank’s siblings

• Louisa Green (born 1882) married Arthur William West (a college servant born in Cowley St John in 1882/3) in the third quarter of 1908 in the Headington registration district (probably at St Nicholas’s Church), and their daughter Iris Elizabeth West was born at Cowley St John in 1910.