Civilian casualties Greenford park cemetery If anyone can help/sanity check in case I have missed something both casualties on the same headstone. W.P.Francis does not show on CWGC Who lost his life through enemy action date of death:23/3/43 Headstone Greenford park cemetery on CWGC is his daughter Civilian LEWIS, ESCA ELSIE Died 23/06/1944 Aged 23 Civilian War Dead Wife of Pte. Thomas Penrhyn Lewis, The Durham Light Infantry. Died at 38 Dean's Road.
Walter Phillip Francis 1897–1943 BIRTH 8 JAN 1897 • Southwark, Middlesex, England DEATH MAR 1943 • Brentford, Middlesex, England He married 25th April 1920: Winifred Esca Batham 1899– BIRTH 1899 • Chiswick, Middlesex, England DEATH Unknown Their first child was : Esca E Francis 1920–1944 BIRTH 1920 • Lambeth, London, England DEATH ABOUT 1944 • Brentford, England, United Kingdom I would suggest that she married in 1940 : England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Name: Ena E Francis Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1940 Registration district: Brentford Inferred County: Middlesex Spouse: Tom P Lewis Volume Number: 3a Page Number: 1297 She died in June 1944: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Esca E Lewis Death Age: 23 Birth Date: abt 1921 Registration Date: Jun 1944 Registration district: Brentford Inferred County: Middlesex Volume: 3a Page: 318 TD
Esca Elsie Francis gets a few mentions in the London Gazette, various Ministry clerical positions. 10 Sept 1937 RH column near top Pensions, Ministry of https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34434/page/5720 Also RH column Clerical Assistants Grade 1 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34434/page/5709 Also 22 Dec 1939 LH column near bottom https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34757/page/8473 Walter was baptised 8 January 1897, St Mary, Newington, parents John & Emily. He is in the 1939 Register with Winifred at 38 Deans Road, Ealing. Walter born 7 Oct 1896 Winifred born 25 Nov 1898 After Walter died looks like Winifred married Frank J Williams in Q3 1944 in Monmouthshire. She died Q1 1990 in Newport. Can find no newspaper reports that might explain how either Walter or Esca died. Edit: Possible that Walter Philip Francis served WW1 as Private 17689, 8th Devonshire Regt, discharged 21.12.17.
TD and Tony thank you for the information. I will see if anything else comes to light I will then send for dc regards Clive
One time in my local cemetery, i came across this grave with a very similiar worded inscription. I couldn't work out what had gone on or happened until one of the local family history people turned up a newspaper clipping explaining it all. Turns out the bloke was repairing bomb damage caused weeks earlier by the 'Christmas Blitz', and a wall had collapsed killing a number of workmen.
thank you all again assume Esca due to her being on CWGC was killed in a bombing or war related accident however her Father is not on CWGC. As ever we will get there with all you help and assistance.
With thanks to Pete Wood forum member Walter Philip Francis lived at 38 Deans Street, along with his wife Winifred. She does appear in my database - along with a whole load of other people who were killed/injured in 1944 when a V1 dropped in the street. She was treated at King Edward Memorial Hospital for elbow and hip injuries. She later remarried. Their daughter Esca Lewis (nee Francis), died in the same V1 incident as the above on the 23/06/1944. She was taken to Clayponds Lane Mortuary along with 12 other fatalities. Walter died the previous year and as stated on his headstone Who lost his life through enemy action date of death:23/3/43 next stop DC
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