20657 Private Frank George Harris Griffiths
9th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
Born in Appledore Devon in 1896.
His parents were David Henry Griffiths
(09/07/1862-21/01/1943) and
Elizabeth Ann Harris(1858-1936). They were married in 1879.
Frank had 5 brothers; Henry Bethnel(1881-1908),
David Henry(born in 1890),John William Ford
(born in 1894),Wilfred Sydney Colwill(born in 1899) and George Albert Harris(born in 1904). He also had 2 sisters; Elizabeth Ann Harris(born in 1883) and Lillian Ann
(born in 1886).
In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living
22 Irsha Street Appledore,Devon. Franks father was employed as a sail maker for ships.
In the 1911 census the family had moved to
'Fair View' 34 Irsha Street Appledore Devon.
Frank was being employed as a caddie at a golf club,but his father was no longer working as he had become crippled 7 years earlier.
Frank enlisted in Bideford and was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
He was awarded the 1914-1918 War and Allied Victory medals.
North Devon Journal – Thursday 27 July 1916
“News has reached Appledore of the death of Pte. Frank Griffiths, of the Devons serving in France, aged about 20, he was the son of Mr. David Griffiths, of Irsha Street, and previous to enlisting was an apprentice at Messrs. R. Cock and Son’s shipbuilding yard. A fine robust young fellow, he declined to remain at home though “starred” and offered his services early in the war. He crossed to France three or four months ago. A brother is in hospital with shrapnel wounds in the thigh.”