Sabin, Frank

Frank was born in Leamington in 1885 and baptised at St John the Baptist Church, Leamington, on 1st April 1885.  He lived at 5 Shrubland Terrace, Leamington with his parents John and Agnes Sabin.  His father was a policeman.

The family continued to live in the town and Frank grew up in Leamington with his two brothers, Harry and William and two sisters, Lucy and Agnes.  Though sadly Harry died in 1900 aged 20.

In 1901 the family are living in Guy Place and Frank is working as a printer and his father is a police sergeant.

By 1911 they have moved to Windy Arbour, Kenilworth. Frank’s father was retired and Frank, aged 26, was working as a compositor in a newspaper office. His mother died in 1912.

Frank became engaged to Lizzie Smith from Clinton Lane, Kenilworth.

When war broke out he joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and on 10th November 1914 sent his fiancee a photograph of himself in uniform with this message on the back:

‘Dear Lizzie, I am for the next Draft for the Front. Do not write till you hear from me.  With love to all. Your ever loving F. S.   We may go off on Sunday’

Frank must have been injured in the spring of 1915 as he sent the following postcard to his fiancee on 24th April 1915.  It is taken at Hillsborough Hospital, Harlow. Frank is in the middle row, third from left.

After his recovery Frank returned to his regiment but was then kiilled in action during the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915. He was 30 years old.  His fiancée, Lizzie Smith, never married.

Here are two earlier photos of Frank, taken before the war:

Words and photographs courtesy of Susan Tall and Wendy MacGregor