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Dvr. Francis Carroll
British Army 307th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
from:45 Witton Street, Birmingham
(d.20th Oct 1918)
Frank Carroll was born on 18th August 1885 at 12 Court 4 House, in the slums on Brearley Street, Birmingham. His parents, James, aged 40, and Ellen Carroll (nee Reading), aged 37, had two children beforehand, Richard and Annie. Frank was baptised on 12th September 1885, at 25 days old. In 1889, his mother gave birth to two twins, a boy and a girl, who both sadly did not survive infancy. By the age of 6, he and his family had moved to 14 Court 18 House, New Summer Street, and, a few months later, in 1892, Frank's father died at the age of 46. In another 6 years for his mother to die along with her husband, at the age of 50. These tragic losses would cause Frank and his brother to move in with their sister's family at 26 Court 1 House, New John Street; Annie having married Walter Hicks the very same year her mother died.
By the age of 14, Frank was working as a pottery bottler, as he had left school, and would continue to do so for the next 16 years. However; on 17th of October 1900, he enlisted with the 6th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. He lied about his age, telling the Captain that he was 17 years old. He was accepted, underwent training during 1901, and was embodied on 9th December 1901 as 6077 Private Frank Carroll. He was shipped off to South Africa with the rest of his regiment and served there mainly manning blockhouses in Cape Colony, from 21st December 1901 to the 9th October 1902.
The year after, at the young age of 17, he married Nellie Gertrude Bunford at St Stephen's Church on 3rd August 1903; coincidentally, Nellie lived on New Summer Street at the time. Given that every street Frank had lived on were close in proximity of each other as well as Nellie's, it is possible that he knew her as a neighbour beforehand. By 1905, the pair had moved to 45 Witton Street and had their first child, Albert William Carroll, on 10th January 1905. A few months beforehand, Frank was discharged from the army after being declared medically unfit. Two years later, on 25th May 1907, they had their second and final child, named after his father, Frank. In about 1908, Albert and Frank were abandoned on the steps of an orphanage by their mother. During their time at the orphanage, the two brothers were beaten and whipped and made to do labourious tasks.
On 15th March 1915, Frank re-enlisted with the army, this time with 3rd Brigade, South Midland Division at Stoney Lane, Birmingham. He was embodied the same day, as 2124 Driver Frank Carroll, and was soon transferred to the 3rd Brigade of the second line. Months later, he was appointed the role of Shoeing Smith and continued training. In May 1916, he and his division, now named the 307th Brigade were shipped off to France. In 1917, he was assigned a new regimental number, 835979.
During the Battle of the Selle on 20th October 1918, a shell landed near Frank as German artillery bombarded the town of Haussy. He was wounded in the left arm and buttocks by shrapnel and was evacuated to 29th Casualty Clearing Station, which had set up at Delsaux Farm near Beugny, by a motor ambulance of the 59th Field Ambulance corps. Although he survived the 30 mile journey there, he did not survive the stay and died of his injuries.
He is buried at Delsaux Farm Cemetery, built on the site on which 29th CCS set up. His surname is misspelt and his appointed role is given, rather than his rank, on his headstone. CWGC are currently working on rectifying the mistakes.
His military career awarded him 3 medals; the Queen's South Africa Medal, for which he also received the Cape Colony and South Africa 1902 clasps; the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In 1919, his wife, Nellie, married William Fisher, having 3 children together. In 1921, at the age of 16, his eldest son, Albert, now known by his middle name, William, was sent to Ireland by his orphanage, working as a doctors chauffeur. His brother stayed behind in Birmingham. In Ireland, William met Nora Margaret Duffy and had 12 children together. Sadly, only half survived infancy. In 1973, William and his brother were reunited after 52 years apart, through the Salvation Army. 4 years later, however, Frank passed away at the age of 70.
