Frank Tanner, son of Thomas Tanner. When he was 17 years old, Frank left Bampton to seek work in Londonfound work at Harvey and Nichols department store for a while before deciding in 1912 to emigrate to Australia. In Australia he worked on a sheep farm, three days horse ride form Melbourne. When the first World War broke out and Frank heard that his brothers had joined up, he joined the Australian Army. Whilst fighting in France , Frank was very seriously injured. It was thought that he would not survive his injuries and was left in a ditch. Very Fortunately, he was found by the Red Cross and transported to a hospital. Happily for his family , Frank survived and was brought back to England. After the war, he discovered that his name had been added to a War Memorial in Australia as it was presumed he had died.
WWI scenes recorded by Australian official photographer. These photographs belonged to Frank Tanner , who fought with the Australian Army during World War 11
August 2015, 92 year-old Vera Elward took a sponsored microflight to raise money for the church organ fund. When she was 95 years old she raised more money by flying a glider for an hour. She also wrote a poetry book to add to her money -raising efforts. In total she raised about £4000 towards the renovation of the church organ.
Frank received these pictures of the graffiti on the roof of Kings Lynn library in 2018 from someone at the library. Work was being done on the library and the men saw the writing/graffiti cut into the stonework and photographed it. A lady at the library did some research and found out William Hudson and Aubrey Cato came from Bampton and she found Frank. Frank had no idea at all his father (known to all in Bampton as Bill) had ever been to Norfolk or that he’d been there on fire and Zeppelin watch on the roof of Kings Lynn library. His friend Aubrey Cato was on the roof with him and his initials are all cut into the stone.Both went on to Flanders. Their immediate superior found them huddled in a fox hole together and ordered one to get out, as one only to a hole was allowed for safety reasons. Bill got out and as he walked away, a shell came over and right into the fox hole where Aubrey was and of course killed him instantly. It wasn’t until after Bill died Frank leant his father had been awarded the Military Medal. Frank was clearing his father’s home in Broad Street and found his father’s Military Medal. In the south chancel of the church in Bampton, there is a wonderful, framed list of every single man from Bampton who fought in WWI. Those with a gold cross by their name were killed, those with a red cross came home injured. Any medals awarded are listed by the names.
This is Frank Hudson's parents who lived in Plantation Cottages and used the ration card to get their provisions from Local Shops in Bampton. The retailers mentioned on the card are Butcher - H Taylor and Sons, Butter and Margarine - GW Dutton Sugar, Bacon Tea and Jam - Mitchells Grocer
