Francis George Emmes

This story and photos are shared with the Trust with kind permission from Gordon James, nephew of  Francis George Emmes with addiontal information from Francis Emmes biography entry in "Held in Honour: Cheltenham and the Second World War" by Graham Sacker

Sadly I know very little of my uncle Frank as he was killed before I was born, my father died young and his other brother didn't say much about him. This is what I know about him. Francis (Frank) George Emmes was born on the 11th August 1915, the second son of the late Thomas Henry and Emily James Emmes (née Wilcox) who lived at 58 Duke Street, Cheltenham. His father had served in the First World War but died of wounds on the 30th August 1916. His mother later re-married and became Emily James.

Frank was educated at St Paul's Practising School and after leaving he was employed by Melius and then Mr J. H. Gaskins, an antique dealer of Belle View Place, Cheltenham. On enlistment he described his trade as Chauffeur in his service record book. He was a member of St John's Church Sunday School and became a sidesman at the church.

He enlisted into the Army on 17 October 1940 and served initially with the Royal Army Service Corps where he saw service in Ireland but in early 1944 he transferred to the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. The Battalion landed on Gold Beach in the late morning of D-Day and advanced through Normandy.

Whilst precise details of his circumstance of death is unknown, his battalion was fighting in woodland near Laval on 18 – 19 August. It is presumed he was wounded then but unfortunately the date wasn't recorded in the British Army Casualty List. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station but died of his wounds on 21 August 1944. The Gloucestershire Echo of 01 September 1944 and Cheltenham Chronicle of 09th September 1944 published an article reporting on his death in which it said "A tragic coincidence is that his father, while serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment in the last war, died of wounds in France in the same month and almost to the same day 28 years ago."

The Rev. J B Reid, who was attached to 24 Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps, sent a letter giving details about his death and burial.

Dear Friend,
Your Relative NO. 5192162 PTE. EMMES, F.G 2 BN. S.W.B. was brought here seriously wounded in action but in spite of every possible attention he passed away on 21 August 1944.

His body was laid to rest in the special military cemetery close by on 21 August.

It was my privilege to minister to him in the wards and at the end to conduct the service.

I pray that you will receive strength to sustain you in this great sorrow.

Yours sincerely,
J. B. Reid, C.F

Frank Emmes was first buried in És Rues, Boulon Military Cemetery before being reinterred in Banneville British Cemetery on the 10th December 1945.

His family asked to have the following inscription at the base of his headstone.

“Gone is the face
We loved so dear
Silent the voice
We longed to hear”