No.241294, Private, Frank Phillip ROOTE
Aged 24
|
Frank Roote was born on 2nd May 1895 in Soham (Newmarket Q2-1895 3B:537), baptised on 12th July 1895 in Soham, son of Francis Nethercote and Mary ROOTE
(née LANE), of Bull Lane, Soham.
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Paddock Street, Soham with his father Francis N ROOTE [50] horse keeper/builder; his mother Mary [45]; brother Theophilus F [17] butcher's assistant; sisters Elizabeth [10] and Doris M [2]. All were born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 15, errand boy in boot shop, he was still at Paddock Street, Soham with his parents, sister Doris, boarder Henry BAILEY single [30] and Florence [11] and Beatrice [8] PENDLE His elder brother William ROOTE died at home after Army discharge with TB. They are buried together in Soham Cemetery with a double headstone see here |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket on 26th August 1914. He gave his date of birth as April ? 1895 he was a butcher from Paddock Street, Soham, weighing 139 lbs (63 kg), 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm) tall, chest 31" to 33" (78.7 to 83.8cm), hazel eyes fair hair.
He was originally signed for 3 years as 12189 7th battalion Suffolk Regiment, promoted to Acting Corporal on 22nd September 1914 he reverted to private as his own request on 4th December.
His regimental number seems very flexible seemingly 3194 when he was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 18th March 1915, then 241294 on posting to 1st/5th Battalion on 15th February 1916 before embarking on HMT "Olympic" at Devonport on 17th February 1916. He disembarked at Alexandria from Mudros, via HMT "Ivernia" on 28th February, joining his battalion in Cairo on March 7th. On 25th February 1917 he attended a course at Zietoun, retuning to his unit on 18th March. He reported sick on 3rd April and was sent to 24 Stationary Hospital in Kantara on 6th with 'bronchitis', and forwarded to 15 General Hospital in Alexandria on the 7th. Then he was evacuated back to England on the HMT "Llandovery Castle" on 23rd August. Admitted to Tooting Military Hospital on 6th September he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and on 17th September was recommended for discharge. He was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service on 8th October 1917 with assessment of 100% disability. His weight had dropped from 154 lbs to 116 lbs (69.9 - 52.6kg). He died at home on 5th April 1919.
together with his brother William who had served in the Army Service Corps, dying in 1917 see here click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
