“Next to the Last” - Frank Danson: 52 Ancestors - Wk 48

My great Uncle Frank Danson  (1892-1977)  was the next to the last son born on 26th August 1892  to James Danson, a joiner journeyman and Maria Rawcliffe of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.  He was baptised on 16th October of the same year in St. Chad’s Church, Poulton.

Frank joined a large household that comprised his parents and brothers Harry 15, John 13, Robert 11, William (my grandfather 7), Albert 4 and Tom 2, living in a row of terrace houses  on Bull Street, Poulton.  It  must have been very crowded, especially when last son George was born in 1894 and only daughter Jennie in 1897.

In the  1911 census Frank was described as an Apprentice (Painter) aged 18.

Five of the Danson brothers served in the First World War, though Frank's  service record has not been traced, with many destroyed in bombing in World War Two.  He must have been 23 when conscription was introduced in March 1916.

In August 1916,  Frank received a letter from his young brother George.

It read
 "Dear Frank, Just a few lines to let you know that I am at present in France  where I expect to be some time, unless omething serious happens, such as the ending of this war  How would that do down, eh?  

The letter concluded  "Well,  Frank, don't forget to to let me have a few lines as soon as poss.  as I'm longing to hear how you are getting along.  Yours sincerely, brother George."

Three weeks later George (below) was killed on the Somme. 

 

Back home in Poulton,  Frank's sister Jennie (right) worked  in the local post office Post Office  and she recalled when a war telegram came through for her widowed mother, Maria Danson.   Fearing the worst, Jennie was allowed to run home with it.  Fortunately it was not the worst of news - but that Frank had been wounded and was in hospital in Malta.

 Photographs found in Jennie's collection  revealed more about Frank's time on the island.

 On the revere in Jenny's handwriting, she identified ank as on the back row right.

The reverse of the photograph with Jennie's writing identifying Frank

This  photograph seems to be some kind of celebration.  Frank is front row left,  dressed formally in his uniform and cap, but what about those two fellows on the  back row in what appears to be their pyjamas and beanie hats. 

  

This photograph was unfortunately unidentified, but I think Frank could be on the right of the front row.  In hospital, wounded soldiers, fit enough to go out, wore a distinctive uniform of blue flannel suits with white revers and a red tie.

Jennie inherited her mother's jewellery  which included this brooch and bracelet that Frank brought back from Malta.



Back home, Frank resumed his job as a painter/decorator.  Like many of his brothers, Frank married late in life at the age of 46  Grace Ann Bee, a nurse in Poulton.  Witnesses at the wedding in 1938  were Frank's brother and his wife Robert and Ann.  There were no children of the marriage. 

Interestingly the 1939 Register has Frank's date of birth as 29th July 1893- at odds with the date on his birth certificate of 26th August 1892.  

Frank and Grace  lived on Station Road, Poulton, and I have memories as a child  of being taken there with my mother and aunt, who kept in touch with all their uncles and aunt.

Frank died  in 1971 at the age of 79.

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