No.43949, Private, Francis GREENACRE
Aged 19
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Francis Greenacre was born in 1897 (Mildenhall Q2-1897 4A:811) son of Thomas and Nellie GREENACRE (née BAKER).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Kenny Hill Road, Mildenhall with his father Thomas GREENACRE [34] farm labourer; his mother Nellie [30] ;sister Florence E. [12]; brothers John Edward [10] and Charles [7]. All were born in Mildenhall. 1911 census...Aged 13, cow hand on farm, he was at Cow Grounds, Kenny Hill with his parents; brothers John and Charles (both farm labourers). There is scope for confusion here with Francis John Greenacre, son of Barnabas and Hannah, and served in the 2nd Suffolks |
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Francis enlisted in Mildenhall . The Battalion were near Geudecourt, the War Diary says:- 16th October - Took over support trenches from 1st Leicester 17th October - Took over trenches from 2nd Sherwood Foresters distribution as shown on attached map[not available]. O.R. 2 killed 7 wounded. Major R H RADFORD 3rd Bn Leicester Regt attached for instructor to this battalion. Both men killed are named on the Thiepval memorial. The Bury Free Press of 2nd December 1916 reported:- KENNY HILL LAD FALLS FIGHTING News has been received by Mr. Thos.Greenacre of Kenny Hill, Mildenhall to the effect that his son, Prvt Francis Greenacre was killed in action upon a recent date. The deceased soldier was well known in and around Kenny Hill, where much sympathy is felt for the bereaved friends. Prvt Greenacre's regiment was the 3/5th Suffolks. In the same issue of the Bury Free Press was:- KENNY HILL SOLDIER KILLED BY A SHELL The sad intelligence has been received, first from a comrade, and now officially, that Prvt Francis Greenacre, 9th Suffolk Regiment, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Greenacre, Kenny Hill Road, was killed in action by a shell on October 17th. He had only been in France about six weeks. He was 19 years of age.Much sympathy is felt for his bereaved parents. A memorial service has been held at the Kenny Hill District Church
and also on the war memorials in Mildenhall. . click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
