Nag's Head, West Wycombe Road (picture from SWOP website)
Frank Austin's grave in High Wycombe Cemetery
Frank Austin 1895 - 1918
My name is Frank Austin and I was born on 20th April 1895 in High Wycombe. My mother, Minnie Austin, was unmarried which was frowned upon at the time so her life wasn't an easy one.
In 1901 I was living with my mother, my uncle and my aunt at the home of my grandfather William Austin at the Nag’s Head Inn, West Wycombe Road. My grandfather was both a timber merchant and a publican, a dual enterprise which was quite common at the time. My mother was a dressmaker working from home.
By 16 I had left home and was boarding with the Cross family at 2, Belle View Cottages, Nutfield Lane, High Wycombe and I had found employment as a shop assistant. However, I wanted more excitement in my life so when I was 18 I joined the Army at Oxford on 20th January 1914. Little did I know what lay ahead of me as the First Wolrd War was just around the corner! I was still just a boy really, only 5’ 4” tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. I was posted to the 2nd, 3rd and finally the 5th Battalion of the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry which I served with from the 8th November 1916 until my discharge in 1917.
I served in France and was wounded on 13 July 1916 while taking part in bombing raids at Pimple Hill and Vimy Ridge from July 10th-13th 1916. As a consequence I was sent home to England on 20th July to recover. Unfortunately I later developed Tuberculosis (Phthisis) as a result of austere war service conditions and was finally discharged as physically unfit for war service on the 6th June 1917. My total service was 3yrs and 4mths. Like all soldiers invalided out of the army I was given the Silver Badge to wear to show that I had done my bit and was not a shirker.
I was sent to a sanitorium in Peppard Common for treatment but when this proved to be of little use I was sent home to live with my uncle, at Laburnham Villas, 37 Victoria Street, High Wycombe where I died on 15th November 1918 only a few weeks after attending yet another Medical Board to assess the War Pension I was receiving. My records report that I was considered to be of a “very good character”.
My funeral took place on Wednesday November 20th 1918 with full military honours. I am buried, here, in High Wycombe Cemetery and my name also appears on the Wycombe Hospital Memorial.
Researched by Ruth Bowler, Flackwell Local Area History Group
