18643 Private Francis Roland Abbott
8th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
1st July 1916
Born in Aldermaston ,Berkshire in 1894.
His parents were Harry Abbott(1868-23/03/1940) and Nellie Hawkins(1870-01/02/1945). They married in 1893.
He had 2 brothers; Fred(1895-1915) and
Sidney 24/12/1898-1971).
He also had 4 sisters; Ethel(born in 1900),
Annie (29/12/1900-1986),lily(23/10/1903-1979) and Emily(14/02/1906-1987).
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In the 1901 census the family were living at
Little Ham
Farm, Baughurst,Hampshire with
Harry Abbott's occupation being that of farmer.
By the 1911 census, Francis had left the family home and was living and working on his grandfathers farm called NorthLeigh Farm ,located in NorthLeigh,Honiton,Devon.
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He enlisted in London and his date of disembarkation into France was on 08/12/1915.
He was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star,the1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
In recording his death,the Reading Mercury on 11/11/1916 also stated that he was the possessor of a first class marksman badge.
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