Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Trooper F C Harrison was serving with the 2/1 Northamptonshire Yeomanry when he passed through Peterborough East Station on 14 October 1916.  He wrote in the visitors’ book “Thanking you for your kindness”.  He was travelling with a group of soldiers serving with the Northamptonshire Yeomanry including Troopers Law and Farmer and Sergeant Benjamin Woods.  They were stationed at Trusthorpe Hall Camp, near Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire.

“The 2/1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry was formed as a second-line regiment in September 1914.  In November 1915 it came under the orders of 59th (2nd North Midland) Division near St Albans, before starting to split up in April 1916.  The Regimental HQ and A Squadron were placed under the orders of 69th Division in Yorkshire and the other squadrons were sent variously to 67th Division in Kent from October 1916, to France in winter 1916-17 and absorbed into the Tank Corps around August 1917, one of the home squadrons was absorbed into 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Tidworth in March 1917 and the other disbanded.”  http://www.1914-1918.net/northantsyeo.htm

We have been unable to trace any military records for Trooper Harrison.

However, we believe he may be Frank Charles Harrison who was born in Gayton, Northamptonshire in 1895 to parents John, a wagoner on a farm, and Ann Maria (nee Saunders).

In 1901 Frank, aged 6 was living at The Green, Milton, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire with his parents John (34) and Ann Maria (31) and brother Leonard J (2).   In 1911 the family are still at Milton; Frank (16) is a wagoner on a farm and living with his mother, Ann, and siblings Leonard (12), Alfred (9), Wallace (6) and Laura (4).

We have found two possible marriages for a Frank Harrison; firstly to Maud Woodhall in 1917 at Knaresborough, Yorkshire and they had one child, Geoffrey F, born on 7 July 1920 at Milton Malsor, Northants.  The other to Alice E Eales in January to March 1918 in Pottersbury, Northants.

We are also unsure when Frank died.

Could Frank be a relative of yours?  Please get in touch if you are able to tell us more about Frank and also confirm Frank’s marriage and date of death.