Francis Edward Elliott (1875 – 1929)

Winifred Elizabeth Boncey (1885 – 1974)

Francis Edward Elliott was born in 1875 in Chichester, the son of George and Eliza, nee Hallen, Elliott. Francis was recorded with his parents and four siblings at North End in Chichester in the 1881 census, his father George was a surgeon in general practice.

In the 1891 census Francis was recorded as a boarder and scholar at 30 Upper Richmond Road in Wandsworth, the head of the house was a schoolmaster.

He signed up to join the Royal Artillery on 5 January 1900 at Dover. He was promoted to corporal on 1 April 1900 and sergeant on 1 April 1903. He was recorded in the Dover barracks in the 1901 census and a corporal.

Francis married Winifred Elizabeth Andrews on 5 February 1906 at St John in Newbury. Winifred was born 29 June 1885 in Newbury, the daughter of Francis Robert and Ada Mary Catherine, nee Harris, Andrews. Her father was for a while the Newbury town crier. In the 1901 census Winifred was living with her parents and brother at 14 Bartholomew Street in Newbury and recorded as a confectioner’s assistant.

In the 1911 census Francis and Winifred were living at 7 Murray Avenue in Newhaven and he was recorded as an army sergeant.

Francis continued serving in the Royal Artillery in the United Kingdom until 9 September 1914 when he was sent to serve in France. His service in France lasted until 21 February 1919, although he did return to England for two periods of leave in March/April 1916 and July 1917 of 12 & 10 days respectively. He was mentioned in dispatches in the London Gazette on 22 June 1915 and also in supplements in June 1916 and May 1918. He finally left the Royal Artillery on 4 January 1921 after serving for 21 years.

In the 1928 electoral register Francis was recorded at 26 Andover Road in Newbury.

Francis died April 1929 while living at 35 St Johns Road and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 April 1929.

Winifred was recorded in the 1930 & 1931 electoral registers at the Dundas Arms in Kintbury. She remarried in Q1 1931 in Stoke to Leonidas George Boncey. In September 1939 George (he appeared to use this name) and Winifred were living at 20 Hollybush Lane in Harpenden.

Winifred died March 1974 at St Mary’s Hospital in Wallingford. Her ashes were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 March 1974.

Sources: as above