FRANK JOSEPH PLOWRIGHT 1894–1980

Photograph courtesy of Plowright family and Tollerton Village History group

Born 29th August 1894, Tollerton, Notts.

Married 1921 to Margaret Welch in Nottingham.

Five daughters: Frances M. born 1921 Burton district, Kathleen M. born 1924 Burton district, Joan H. born 1927 Birmingham North district, Joyce E. born 1931 Tamworth district and Gillian E. born 1935 Sutton Coldfield district.

Died 1980

1901 Census

Age 6 living in Tollerton, with parents, Henry, farmer, mother Frances, sisters Elizabeth 25, Jane 24, Mabel 20, Martha 17, Edith 9, brother Richard 18, uncle Thomas and two servants.

1911 Census

Age 16 living at Tollerton with parents, uncle Thomas, sisters Elizabeth 35, Hannah 33 (a trained nurse), Edith 19 (student) and four farm servants.

For more information about Frank Plowright and his family, go to www.tollertonvillagehistory.co.uk

Military Service

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant (from 1915); Lieutenant with effect from 1.7.17

Military Unit: 10th (Reserves) Bn, Bedfordshire Regiment

Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 28.9.15

2.6.15: Appointed Cadet, Officers Training Corps, University College Nottingham

7.9.15: Application for Commission while in OTC, University College Nottingham. Address Bassingfield Farm, Tollerton

25.9.15: Posted 10th (R) Battalion. To go direct to unit

28.9.15: London Gazette citation for The Bedfordshire Regiment, Temporary Second Lieutenant Frank Joseph Plowright, attached to 10th (Reserves) Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment.

28.9.15 to 24.7.16: France

25.9.16 to May 1918: France

December 1917 – June 1918

Frank Plowright did not serve on the front line during this period, due to ill health.

29.12.17: Rejoined from leave, Etaples. Pronounced “B.” (category of fitness? – partly illegible) and struck off strength of battalion.

1.2.18: Shown serving as a Property Disposal Contracting Officer with J base Depot,  a training camp for servicemen arriving from England prior to them going to the front.

10.4.18: Classified “A” – to proceed to England and report to War Office for instruction

17.4.18: …B ii G .G. Coy.

1.6.18: Serving with 954 (G.G.) R.E. Coy, Calais (definitions of abbreviations G.G. and R.E. not found)

Illness and recuperation in England July 1918 – July 1919

Frank Plowright was in hospital in July and August 1918 suffering from neurasthenia and trench fever. He was then attached to the Ministry of Labour, remaining in the army until 1919.

11.7.18: Medical Board: Category A and B unfit 3 months; category C (i) unfit 2 months. In & By. In an Officers’ Hospital. To return to 3rd Bedfords pending arrangements for admission P.A. until 21.9.18.

19.8.18: Letter re application for employment with Ministry of Labour, address Beaconsfield Villa, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent.

23.8.18: Imperial Hospital, St Anne’s on Sea

24.8.18: Medical board, King’s Lancashire Convalescent Hospital, Squires Gate, Blackpool: Category A and B unfit 10 months; category C (i) unfit 8 months; category C (ii) unfit 6 months. In and By. Instructed to proceed on one month’s leave; to report forthwith in writing to Ministry of Labour.

31.8.18: Letter re 4 weeks leave granted from 24th August to 23rd September, address Beaconsfield Villa, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent.

25.11.18: Letter re medical board, address c/o The Adjutant, OUTC, University, Nottingham.

13.12.18: Medical Board: Category A unfit permanently; category B and Ci fit. In & By.

1.3.19: Shown as being on the strength of 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, but in hospital.

28.5.19: Letter re medical board, address c/o Adj, University, Nottingham.

2.6.19: Attended medical board at Bagthorpe War Hospital, Nottingham. Attached Ministry of Labour Nottingham. Disability attributable to stress of active service: (1) Neurasthenia: ‘Very slight tremor of hands and eyelids’; (2) Trench Fever: ‘He has quite recovered’.
Date of origin of disability: (1) July 1916, Somme; (2) November 1916, Beau…. Heart and lungs normal; weight 165 lbs. Reported to be category C ii. Deemed fit for sedentary employment only for 3 months. To return to his present duties with the Ministry of Labour Nottingham.

3.7.19: Demobilised; passed through Ripon dispersal station. Address c/o Adj, University, Nottingham

Promotion as Lieutenant
1.8.19: Eligible for promotion. Call for recommendation

6.8.19: Letter re demobilisation as from 3.7.19 sent to his address in Tollerton

6.9.19: Recommended for promotion to Lieutenant in letter sent to the War Office by Major Clutton, Officer Commanding 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment.

12.9.19: Notes in service record state: ‘Reply from Major Clutton recommending T/2nd Lt. F. J. Plowright for promotion to Lieutenant. Eligible from 1.7.17 with precedence next below R. C. Bloodworth. Inform accordingly’.

16.9.19: Letter to Frank confirming his promotion to Temporary Lieutenant with effect from 1st July 1917. Address Tollerton, Notts.

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Bingham Road (father, died 1922, was living at Beaconsfield Villa, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent in 1918, the whole family having moved to Radcliffe during the war)

Medals Awarded: no details available, but was eligible for 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory medals

Photograph of Frank’s marriage 1921 courtesy of Plowright family and Tollerton Village History group

1921 Census

Address: Stenson, Derby

Employment: Farmer

Household: wife Margaret, boarding with Hallsworth family

1939 Register

Address: 3 Maney Corner, Sutton Coldfield

Occupation: Master Dairyman

Household: living with wife Margaret, born 14th November 1897, occupation housewife and shopkeeper (the records of other household members are officially closed).

Reasons for inclusion on the Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Military address in Radcliffe on Trent (parents’ home after father’s retirement from farming in Tollerton)