Gunner Francis Charles Alderman Royal Field Artillery
Francis Charles Alderman
The Man Francis Charles Alderman (Frank) was born on Friday 10th October 1919 in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, son of Fredrick a Licencsed Victualler and Sophia nee Kightley. Fredrick had been married previously to Rosina Louisa nee Allen and they had four children, Frank’s half siblings, Rosina Annie born in 1896, Florence Maud 1891, Frederick Allen 1907 (later the licencee of the Binswood Tavern at 2 Binswood Street 1939-54) and Harold Mark 1909. It seems Frederick and Rosina divorced as he re-married to Sophia in the first quarter of 1919.
The 1921 census shows the family living at ‘The Guards Inn’, 45 High Streel, Leamington where Frederick was the Landlord with Frank aged just 2. In 1931 when Frank was 12, Frederick passed away leaving Sophia and subsequently her family running the Guards.
Following his education Frank became a Hairdresser and during the late 1930s enlisted into the Territorial Army as a Gunner with service number 899830 and lived at 20 Victoria Road, Leamington Spa. At the start of World War II on 3rd September he was embodied and served throughout the conflict in the RA, seeing service in the Italian Campaign.
At the end of the war Frank was awarded his 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, the latter appearing in Army Order 62 of 11th February 1952 and the war medals being sent to him at Victoria Road in 1949.
During the third quarter of 1945 Frank married Joan Mary Pearson in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, they had three children Francis Charles junior, who sadly died at birth in 1951, Geoffrey Robert 1951 – 4th July 2013 and Ian 1958 – 2011.
Joan passed away on 19th December 1972 in hospital and her funeral was held in All Sant’s Parish Church, Leamington on Friday 22nd. On Saturday 26th October 1973 Frank re-married to Beryl Elsie Scott, only daughter of Mr and Mrs John Scott of 6a Grove Street in All Saints parish Church, Canon Idwal Jones officiating. Frank’s son, Geoffrey was the Best Man.
Frank kept his hand in at hairdressing as well as being employed as a Hall Porter at the Mid-Warwickshire College on Warwick New Road. He was also a member of the All Saints parish Church Choir, being their longest serving chorister and a leading member of the Leamington Branch Royal Artillery Association.
The 1921 census shows the family living at ‘The Guards Inn’, 45 High Streel, Leamington where Frederick was the Landlord with Frank aged just 2. In 1931 when Frank was 12, Frederick passed away leaving Sophia and subsequently her family running the Guards.
Following his education Frank became a Hairdresser and during the late 1930s enlisted into the Territorial Army as a Gunner with service number 899830 and lived at 20 Victoria Road, Leamington Spa. At the start of World War II on 3rd September he was embodied and served throughout the conflict in the RA, seeing service in the Italian Campaign.
At the end of the war Frank was awarded his 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, the latter appearing in Army Order 62 of 11th February 1952 and the war medals being sent to him at Victoria Road in 1949.
During the third quarter of 1945 Frank married Joan Mary Pearson in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, they had three children Francis Charles junior, who sadly died at birth in 1951, Geoffrey Robert 1951 – 4th July 2013 and Ian 1958 – 2011.
Joan passed away on 19th December 1972 in hospital and her funeral was held in All Sant’s Parish Church, Leamington on Friday 22nd. On Saturday 26th October 1973 Frank re-married to Beryl Elsie Scott, only daughter of Mr and Mrs John Scott of 6a Grove Street in All Saints parish Church, Canon Idwal Jones officiating. Frank’s son, Geoffrey was the Best Man.
Frank kept his hand in at hairdressing as well as being employed as a Hall Porter at the Mid-Warwickshire College on Warwick New Road. He was also a member of the All Saints parish Church Choir, being their longest serving chorister and a leading member of the Leamington Branch Royal Artillery Association.
1939-45 Star. Italy Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial'.
On 9th July 1983, Frank rode his motorcycle to Banbury to cut a friend’s hair. On the return journey at about noon, he was riding up the Radford Hill on the main Southam to Leamington Road, when he was clipped by a lorry, the driver of which seemingly never realising what had happened, causing Frank to lose balance and fall off his motorcycle. Following the accident a motorist stopped and offered to help, but Frank picked himself up and insisted on continuing his journey home.
The pain following his accident was so great, that he visited Warwick Hospital where he was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder, fractured collarbone and two fractured ribs, he was unable to get out of bed for several days, but did eventually manage to return for further treatment on 14th July.
On attending his appointment at the hospital with Beryl, Frank said he thought he was going to faint, Beryl helped lower him to the ground and called for help. He was taken immediately to casualty, but despite several attempts to revive him he died there shortly afterwards, aged just 63. A Pathologist subsequently gave his cause of death as blood clots due to thrombosis caused by the fractures and the Coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Frank’s funeral took place at All Saints in Leamington on Thursday 21st July.
The pain following his accident was so great, that he visited Warwick Hospital where he was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder, fractured collarbone and two fractured ribs, he was unable to get out of bed for several days, but did eventually manage to return for further treatment on 14th July.
On attending his appointment at the hospital with Beryl, Frank said he thought he was going to faint, Beryl helped lower him to the ground and called for help. He was taken immediately to casualty, but despite several attempts to revive him he died there shortly afterwards, aged just 63. A Pathologist subsequently gave his cause of death as blood clots due to thrombosis caused by the fractures and the Coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Frank’s funeral took place at All Saints in Leamington on Thursday 21st July.
Frank's Medal Index Card showing award of the 1939-45 and Italy Stars, Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
The Story The medals awarded to Francis Charles Alderman were acquired from E-Bay on 21st June 2025 following an idle search for ‘Efficiency Medals’, whilst in a pub! The medal was of interest simply because of the unusual surname, which is linked, in name only, to the Mayoral Sub-theme in this collection.
A further idle search of Ancestry was made to establish his World War II medal entitlement, the index card indicating award of the 1939-45 and Italy Stars, Defence and War Medals. Additionally, it revealed his full name, enabling a subsequent more detailed Ancestry search to be undertaken and also that he was a man from Royal Leamington Spa, another sub-theme of this collection!
Following some immediate further digging on Ancestry, an offer was made for the medal and accepted, being returned to its ‘home town’.
Ancestry, Wills, Forces War Records and the Newspaper archives all enabled a good biography to be pieced together, including a photograph of him at his second wedding, some personal information and details of his untimely death following an accident in 1983. His places of residence in Leamington and were also visited and photographs taken.
Another great result from a chance search and a Leamingtonian remembered in a small way for his services to his country and community and very sad passing.
A further idle search of Ancestry was made to establish his World War II medal entitlement, the index card indicating award of the 1939-45 and Italy Stars, Defence and War Medals. Additionally, it revealed his full name, enabling a subsequent more detailed Ancestry search to be undertaken and also that he was a man from Royal Leamington Spa, another sub-theme of this collection!
Following some immediate further digging on Ancestry, an offer was made for the medal and accepted, being returned to its ‘home town’.
Ancestry, Wills, Forces War Records and the Newspaper archives all enabled a good biography to be pieced together, including a photograph of him at his second wedding, some personal information and details of his untimely death following an accident in 1983. His places of residence in Leamington and were also visited and photographs taken.
Another great result from a chance search and a Leamingtonian remembered in a small way for his services to his country and community and very sad passing.
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20 Victoria Road, Leamington Spa. June 2025
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45 High Street, Leamington Spa. The Guards Inn, now The Pig & Fiddle
Medal Details
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 899830 GNR.F.C.ALDERMAN. R.A.
Page last updated 29 Jun 25
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