FRANCIS BERTIE DRIVER
Known as FREDERICK DRIVER on all war records.
Born: 29th September 1888, at 63, St. Matthew’s Street, Ipswich.
Baptised: 17th August 1892, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich, with his sisters – Beatrice Alice, born 9th November 1881, Agnes Emily, born 12th April 1884, Florence, born 1st June 1892, and brother – Ernest Walter, born 9th February 1887 – family home at 63, St. Matthew’s Street, Ipswich.
Died: 29th July 1917; age: 29; KiA.
Occupation: a Tramway Fitter for the Ipswich Corporation.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 26966
Regiment: Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire) Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Formerly Th/198407, Royal Army Service Corps & 27970, Dorsetshire Regiment.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 53.
West-Vlaandren,
Belgium.
Brother-in-law to PERCY WALTER ADAMS.
CENSUS
1891 63, St. Matthew’s Street, Ipswich.
Francis was 2 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
James Driver, 37, a Photographic Artist – own account, born Ipswich.
Mary Ann Driver (nee Dack), 33, born Deepham, Norfolk.
James Henry Driver, 14, a Merchant’s Clerk, born Ipswich.
Ellen Maud E. Driver, 12, born Ipswich.
Beatrice Alice Driver, 9, born Ipswich.
Agnes Emily Driver, 6, born Ipswich.
Ernest Walter Driver, 4, born Ipswich.
Daisy Mabel Driver, 8 months, born Ipswich.
1901 40, Hampton Road, Ipswich.
Francis was 12 years old and living with his parents & sisters.
James, 46, a Photographer – own account.
Mary Ann, 42.
Beatrice, 19, a Laundry Maid.
Florence Driver, 9, born Ipswich.
Grace Jane Driver, 7, born Ipswich.
Elsie Driver, 4, born Ipswich.
Ethel May Driver, 1, born Ipswich.
1911 40, Hampton Road, Ipswich.
Francis was 22 years old, a Fitter Tramway Company – Corporation. He was living with his parents & sisters.
James, 57, a photographer – own account.
Mary Ann, 53.
Daisy, 20, a Laundress.
Florence, 18, a Laundress.
Grace, 17, a Domestic Servant.
Ethel, 11.
In 1916, Ipswich, Francis married Agnes Elizabeth Adams, a hand laundress at a laundry, born September 1889, Woodbridge – daughter of William Adams, a portmanteau maker for a leather bag manufacturer, and Harriet Adams (nee Rumsey), of 60, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Agnes and Francis had one son:
Thomas Ernest Driver, born 1918, Ipswich.
Agnes Elizabeth Driver died in November 1918 and was buried on the 30th November 1918 at Ipswich Old Cemetery.
The War Gratuity was issued to Agnes’s father, William Adams, for his grandson, Thomas Ernest Driver.
Thomas Ernest Driver was first loved and cared for by his maternal grandparents, William and Harriet Adams, before becoming a family member of his maternal aunt and uncle’s family – Margaret Harriet Eyles (nee Adams) and Arthur Ernest Eyles, and their eight children. Thomas adopted the surname Eyles and, in his adult life, was known as Thomas Ernest Driver Eyles.
Francis is also remembered on the war memorial under Transport, at the Town Hall, Ipswich.
One Comment