Lives of the First World War

known 1st January 1880

Private, 242829, Cheshire Regiment, 15th Battn. Formerly of the Manchester Regiment, 2425, enlisted Wigan. Killed in action on 24/03/1918. No known grave, but named in the Memorial Chapel at St Annes Parish Church, on a grave in the churchyard, in Ashton Gardens, and on the Poizieres Memorial, Somme, France. (Panel 35/A) Commemorated on grave W84L at St Annes Parish Church: In loving memory of Henry Kenderdine BAMFORD born August 12th 1848 died May 6th 1912. Thy way, not mine, O Lord. In loving memory of Frank his son, wounded in Gallipoli 1915, fell in France March 24th 1918. Also Thomas his eldest son born August 16th 1874 died April 28th 1932. Frank was born in 1883Q2 in Leek, Staffordshire, the son of Henry Kenderdine and Annie Bamford of Leek, Staffs, a silk manufacturer. By 1901 the family had moved to St Annes and was living at 46, St Annes Rd West, a household of nine with father Henry aged 52 identified as retired and son Frank identified as an ironmonger’s apprentice. Wife Anne is identified as draper’s shopkeeper and company housekeeper. Ten years later in 1911 Frank was boarding at 2 Mariebonne, Wigan still an ironmonger’s assistant. Prior to serving in France he saw action at Gallipoli where he was wounded. He wrote of his experiences there in a letter home written from the hospital at Eastleigh and published in the St. Annes Express on 6th August 1915. He wrote: “………..For many hours we were the target of the enemy’s machine guns being about 500 yards in front of the last captured Turkish trench. After the situation became hopeless, there was nothing for it but to try and get back to to the trench, but the chances seemed very remote. Some of us were lucky and managed it. Lt Basil Fletcher and I were the last to get away and the actions of this officer were very praiseworthy. In his great danger his thoughts were all for his comrades and never for himself. Many a time I saw him lift a wounded man up and try to help him along amidst a fusilade of bullets. Although he was wounded in several places, when I last saw him, he was doing well. My wound has healed up but my right eye is rather weak. My case seems to be rather a novelty. I haven’t heard of another case where a bullet went in through the ear and came out of the mouth……….” He goes on to express his thanks to the ladies of Malta for their kindness and to the staff of the Imtarfa Hospital for their tenderness, skill and unstinted energies. No information has yet come to light on Frank’s service on the Western Front or the circumstances of his death there. Sources of Information CWG, Soldiers who Died, 1891, 1901 & 1911 Census, GRO Birth Index, Burial Register (St Annes Parish Church), St Annes Express (Roll of Honour 6/11/14, wounded 23/7/15, letter from hospital 6/8/15), Monumental Inscription.

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