Lives of the First World War

A photo of my great-uncle Frank Eyre in uniform in WW1.

My great-uncle Frank Eyre and two friends. Frank is in the middle. All 3 are wearing the cap badge of the York & Lancs Regiment.

Francis [or Frank] was born in 1892 in Kniveton, Derbyshire.

1901 Census entry for the Eyre family living at 18 Nottingham Road, Derby. Frank is age 8 when he should be 7.

Frank's mother, Mary, died aged 29 when the family lived at 15 Exeter Street, Derby, in 1903.

In 1901 the Eyre family were living at 18 Nottingham Road, Derby. Frank was 8.

The Eyre Family is living at 6 Colliery Row, Church Gresley, Derbyshire in 1911. Frank is 18. This was Frank's home address up until the time he married in 1922.

Frank married Ellen Hancock at The Register Office, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. Frank was a coal miner.

Frank died in hospital near Dinnington, Yorkshire in 1962.

Harold is Frank & Ellen's second child. He was born at 42 Scarsdale Street, Dinnington in 1924 - the same address as on the medal card of Pte F. Eyre 36692 & 4736480 confirming that this soldier is indeed my great-uncle.

Frank's Medal Card shows that he did not receive any of the standard 3 Great War medals but he received the General Service Medal with N.W. Persia clasp in 1924. Frank was serving in the North Persia Force from August to December 1920.

Frank's entry in the General Service Medal Roll in 1924.

This record explains why Frank did not receive the standard 3 Great War Medals. He was conscripted in 1917 and joined the 16th Battalion of the York & Lancaster Regiment. This Battalion was a Home Battalion stationed in Catterick from November 1917 until it was disbanded. Frank did not leave this country during the Great War. Frank must have re-enlisted after the war on a 27 month enlistment [he married in February 1922 and was a coal miner then] and in 1920 found himself on the border between present-day Iran and Russia in order to be awarded the G.S.M. with N.W. Persia clasp.

A second medical form confirming my comments on the medical form of August 1918. Frank did not leave the U.K. during the Great War but served on the border between present-day Iran and Russia after the Great War had ended.

A photograph of Patients and Nurses at Catterick Military Hospital in 1918. Private Frank Eyre 36692 is standing on the back row, 3rd from the left.

Frank and his family were living at 22 Leicester Road, Dinnington, S. Yorkshire in 1939