Francis Sellars | South Lincolnshire War Memorials

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.

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