Frank's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Frank Millward was born on 13 August 1895 (as Francis Milward Dakin) and baptised at St George's Church, Sutton, south Macclesfield on 20 November 1898, the son of Sarah Ellen (née Brunt) and Samuel Millward, a weaver of 84 Lord Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
In 1901, six-year-old Frank was living at 38 Davenport Street, Macclesfield with his parents and sister Harriet (3). Another child, Arthur, was born in 1903 and Frank's mother died in 1910. By 1911 the family had moved to 6 Brunswick Square; Frank had left school by then and was working as an embroiderer. Frank's father died in 1913 and the children then lived with their aunt and uncle, Hannah (née Brunt) and Henry Goodwin, at 8 Green Street, Macclesfield.
Frank later worked at Gorton Locomotive Works, known as Gorton tank.
WW1 SERVICE
In 1916 Frank joined the local 7th Cheshire Regiment in Macclesfield, receiving service number 4092. He was drafted overseas in September 1916 and transferred to the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers with service number 37416. He had been in the front line trenches for only four days when he was killed.
News of Frank's death was printed in the Macclesfield Times of 12 January 1917:
MACCLESFIELD YOUTH KILLED – FOURTH DAY IN THE TRENCHES
Official intimation has been received of the death in action of Private Frank Millward, Lancashire Fusiliers, who resided with his aunt, Mrs Goodwin, at 8 Green St, Macclesfield. He had only been in the trenches four days when he was killed. Private Millward was an orphan, and after the death of his parents he was brought up by his aunt. Educated at St Paul’s School, he was employed for a time in Macclesfield, and then went to work at Gorton tank, where he had been for some time. He enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment about twelve months ago and went to France in September, when he was attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers. His last letter stated that he was about to enter the first line trenches, and he met his death four days after… Private Millward was 21 years of age and attended the Fountain Street Mission…
COMMEMORATION
Private Frank Millward has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
In Macclesfield, Private Frank Millward is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO Indexes: Births, Marriages, Deaths
England and Wales census: 1901,1911
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 12 January 1917, 23 September 1921 (photo supplement)
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.