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238279 Pte. Francis Joseph Wales British Army 10th Btn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment from:Broadstairs, Kent (d.7th June 1917 ) Francis Wales, sometimes known as Frank by his family, was born in Tottenham, London in 1888 but when his mother married (long story) he moved to Broadstairs in Kent. Eventually he married Kathleen Mary Pollard in 1912. They ended up having three children although, sadly, the third child was born after he died. He worked at various times as a plumber although he was part of a very well known family of fishermen and members of the local lifeboat crew. Francis joined up on 3rd September 1915 in Ramsgate. Although we have no written records it would appear he did training in Aldershot then was sent to France/Belguim. We know he died on the first day of the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917. He was initially recorded as missing, but after a short time this was changed to killed in action and his body was buried under a hedge along with two other people. One was an officer from the 23rd Middlesex Regiment, the other an unknown sergeant. In Sept 1919 his body was recovered and buried at Voormezeele Enclosure 3, near Ypres in Belgium. We plan to visit his grave on the 100th anniversary of his death. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**