Biography of Lance Corporal Francis Sellars (30228)
14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Formerly 955 Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion
Died 11th September 1916
Soldier
- Name: Francis Sellars
- Date of birth: 1896
- Place of Birth: Tongue End, Lincolnshire, England
- Date of Birth Registration: July – September 1896
- Place of Birth Registration: Spalding, Lincolnshire, England
Father
- Name: William Sellars
- DOB: 1852
- Place of Birth: Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire, England
- Occupation: Farm labourer
Mother
- Name: Elizabeth Would
- DOB: 1853
- Place Of Birth: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, England
- Marriage: 1878 St Martin, Lincolnshire, England
Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)
- Thomas Sellars, 1879, Lincoln
- Frederick Sellars, 1880, Chapel Hill
- Mary Jane Sellars, 1881, Coningby (Died 1884)
- Elizabeth Sellars, 1883, Coningsby
- Kate Sellars, 1885, Lincoln
- William Sellars, 1887, Lincoln
- George Sellars, 1888, Lincoln (Died 1890)
- Ada Mary Sellars, 1891, Tongue End
- Francis Sellars, 1896, Tongue End
Census
- 1901: Francis is living with his parents in Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire.
- 1911: Francis is living with his parents at Low Street, Billinborough, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 14 and he is listed as in cycle trade.
Relatives in services
- None found
Marriage
- No marriage for Francis has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.
Newspaper Mentions
- Grantham Journal Saturday 30th September 1916
BILLINGBOROUGH
KILLED IN ACTION – Mr. and Mrs. Sellars, of High Street have received news that their son, Lance Corpl, Frank Sellars, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, has been killed in action. The communication came from a colleague Pte. J. Coulson, who was with him when he fell. Both joined the Hunts Cyclist Battalion and were transferred to the Warwicks. Deep sympathy is extended to the parents in the loss of such a brave son, who, before joining the Forces, was engaged in the cycle trade. He was about twenty years of age.
- Sleaford Gazette Saturday 7th October 1916
BILLINGBOROUGH
KILLED IN ACTION – Mr. and Mrs. Sellars, of High Street have received news that their son, Lance Corpl, Frank Sellars, of the Royal Warwickshire Regt., has been killed in action. The communication came from a colleague Pte. J. Coulson, who was with him when he fell. Both these petriots joined the Hunts Cyclists Battalion and, after their training were transferred to the Warwicks. They went to France about six weeks ago and were together in the trenches when Lance- Corpl. Sellars received his fatal wound. Deep sympaathy is extended to the parents in the loss of such a brave son, who, before joining the Forces, was engaged in the cycle trade. He was about 20 years of age.
Military Records
Attestation Papers
- None found
Soldier’s Died In The Great War
- These records show that Lance Corporal Francis Sellars, 30228, 14th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment was killed in action on 11th September 1916 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.
Pension Records
- Available
Effects Left To
- Father William
Medals
- The British Medal
- The Victory Medal
Memorials
- UK:
- Billingborough, Roll of Honour in St Andrews Church
- St. Georges Chapel, Ely Cathedral
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
- In memory of Lance Corporal Francis Sellars, 30228, 14th Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment who died on 11 September 1916 Age 20
- Son of William and Elizabeth Sellars, of Vine St., Billingborough, Lincs.
- Remembered with honour, Thiepval Memorial
- Pier and Face 9 A 9 B and 10 B.
© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials
© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials
Military Service Timeline
- Enlisted in Huntingdon
- This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed
Sources
- WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
- British Newspaper Archive.
- Fold 3
- Find My Past
- Genealogist
- Forces War Records
- British Army Service Numbers
- War Gratuity Calculator
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
- General Registry Office