Francis (Frank) Henry Laister 1893-1917

Frank Laister from his granddaughter LS

Born:
Q1 1893 Barnsley (9c 227)

Son of:
Edwin John Laister b.1857 Ranskill, Nottinghamshire  d.1920 Barnsley
His father was Henry Laister, Manager of Clarkson's Brewery
1911: Under Manager, Brewery 45 Duke Street
married at All Saint's Church, Silkstone on 8 December 1892
Mary Elizabeth Brown b.1864 Leeds, Yorkshire d.1942 Barnsley
Her parents were Samuel and Margaret Brown of Park Road, Barnsley

Position in family: The eldest of 4 children
1. Francis Henry Laister b.1893 WW1 KILLED
2. Margaret Winifred Laister b.1894
3. Lilian Gertrude Laister b.1895
4. Thomas Arthur Laister b.1897 WW1 SERVED

Home address, age and occupation:
1901: 45 Duke Street, Barnsley age 8
1911: 43 Quaker Row, Marsh, Huddersfield  age 18 Teamer Railway Goods (a boarder)
1915 (on marriage): 45 Duke Street, Barnsley age 22 Motor Driver

Marriage: 
He was married
to Violet Savage (b.1896) at St Peter's Church, Barnsley on 25 March 1915
Her parents were Herbert and Emma Savage of 40 Doncaster Road, Barnsley

Children:
1. Clarice May Laister b.Q4 1915 Barnsley m.Leslie Sykes

Military Service:
Enlisted: 1915
Regiment and Battalion:    Motor Transport, Army Service Corps
Service number and rank:  M2/139462 Private (Lance-Corporal in obituary see below)
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Death:     21 October 1917  age years
Buried at:  Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
Grave Reference:  I. G. 84.

Remembered:
On a family gravestone in Barnsley Cemetery
St Peters Church Doncaster Rd Memorial Plaque  
St John's Church, Barnsley - Oak Memorial Tablet 

Notes:
With thanks to Frank's grandaughter Lesley Slack for permission to use the above photo of Frank from her Ancestry Family tree.
  
Frank's death was reported in the Barnsley Chronicle on 10 November 1917 and his photograph appeared in the newspaper the following week.

A Barnsley Motorist Killed - In the Act of Delivering Petrol and Rations
Lance-Corporal Frank Laister, A.S.C. (Motor Transport), was killed in action on October 21st.  He was 24 years of age and leaves a wife and one child, who reside at 40, Doncaster Road.  Deceased had been in the Army since November, 1915.
News of his demise was contained in a letter sent to his wife by Lieut. Watson who wrote: "Dear Mrs Laister, - It is with the deepest regret and sense of personal loss that I have to tell you of the death of your husband, Lance-Corporal Laister.  He was delivering petrol and rations to an advanced detachment of my Company this afternoon (October 21st) when a shell burst amongst several of the men, killing your husband and four others.  Lance-Corporal Laister was one of the most conscientious workers on this column.  He always knew what was to be done and did it without waiting for orders.  Always willing, always cheerful, he was an absolutely reliable N.C.O. His work was never easy and often he was out day and night, but never was he known to grumble.  He was one of the finest characters we have and when there was a rough job to be done he was as willing and pleasant as any one, eager to get on with it.  With men, N.C.O.'s and officers alike he was most popular, with always a cheery smile.  To offer sympathy in your grief and loss seems inadequate, but nevertheless and because of my respect for your husband I can in some degree feel for your loss and should like you, for that reason to accept my heartfelt sympathy."   Barnsley Chronicle 10 November 1917.
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You can read about Frank on Lives of the First World War

Frank's maternal grandparents were Samuel and Margaret Brown on whose gravestone he is remembered in Barnsley Cemetery.  Also remembered there is his cousin Henry Wilkinson Brown who was killed in November 1915.