Frank Crossland BILLOWS

10 December 1915

A SKIPTON SOLDIER WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN FORCE

Mr. and Mrs. W. Billows, of Granville Street, Skipton, have received an interesting letter from their son, Pte. Frank Billows, who joined Kitchener's Army shortly after the outbreak of war, and has been on active service in France for some months. The communication is dated November 19th, and is headed Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. In it Pte. Billows states:-

"You will see that I have changed my address and have left France for good. I wish I was only at liberty to tell you where I have been and what I have seen, but we are not allowed. We have not yet finished our journey, and what our destination is we do not know.

We had a train journey of two days and three nights and travelled in cattle trucks. They were very fair and not so bad as the ordinary French carriages. The first day the train went so slow that we rode on the top of the waggons, and every time it stopped we played football. We were supplied with rum and coffee at stations, and also got a wash.

The country we passed through was lovely. One day we saw nothing but vineyards, and then we got in a hilly part and noticed snow-capped mountains. I saw oxen working in the fields, and the people had a peculiar way of washing clothes-in the river with a board to rub them on.

We had about an hour's march from the train to the boat and soon got on board. We slept in bunks and each had a separate bed. It was grand to have a good night's rest, and I slept soundly. When we had been sailing half-an-hour many men were ill. The boat was pitching and tossing, and that did the trick.

On the ship we have had good food, including porridge. When we arrived at port I saw sights I had never seen before. We have now left there and gone to another port to coal. As soon as we got in the harbour we were surrounded by boats containing fruit sellers. Some of the natives were swimming near the boat and diving for money thrown into the water. They were like ducks. A police boat tried to run one down, but he simply dived and came up at the other end.

The coal business, a real sight, was done by natives. They carried the coal in baskets and made a continual chain, working hour after hour-and they did it at the double. They made a horrible noise, and every time they pulled a rope they commenced singing, but it was the same few bars every time.

We were taken on shore for a short march, just to stretch our legs. Where the natives lived there were dozens of goats and poultry about the houses."

Pte. Billows is one of three brothers all on active service. The others are in France, the last to cross being Gunner R.G. Billows, of the Garrison Artillery, who left England a few weeks ago.

23 March 1917

SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR - PTE. LAURENCE WESTERN

We regret to record the death on the field of battle of another fine young Skipton soldier - Pte. Laurence Western, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Western, 28, Gladstone Street, Skipton. Anxiety as to his fate had been felt by the family for a few days owing to reports which had been circulated, and the worst fears were confirmed during the weekend by the following letter dated March 13th, from Captain H. Dixon, of the West Riding Regiment:-

"Dear Mrs. Western, - It is with much regret that I have to write and tell you that your son, Pte. L. Western, was killed yesterday morning, whilst on duty in the trenches about 8 a.m., by a rifle bullet. I feel the loss of such a soldier very much. He has been most consistent in carrying out his duty ever since we first come out to France. I can only hope that the fact that your son died at his post carrying out his duty nobly may be of some consolation to you. Please accept my deepest sympathy."

Twenty-two years of age, Pte. Western in civil life was employed in the grocery department of the Skipton Co-operative Society. He enlisted during the month following the outbreak of the war, and went out to France in April, 1915. He had seen much fighting, but up to the shot which took his life he had come through unscathed, although he had had many narrow escapes. On one occasion, for instance, a bullet passed through his waistcoat without doing any serious damage. He had been on duty for some time as a Lewis gunner. In his last letter home, dated March 5th, he mentioned that his regiment had been on the move for a few days, and that they were temporarily short of food.

Deceased was a member of the Parish Church Institute and was also a member of the Handbell Ringers' Association connected with the Parish Church. Six members of this Association have been on active service -W. Burgess, Albert Coates, F. Billows, Sydney Carter, Laurence Western and J. Chew; and three of them - Burgess, Carter and Western - we are sorry to say, have paid the supreme sacrifice, while Chew has been wounded.

Mr. and Mrs. Western have another son at the Front - Pte. Wm. Western, with the R.A.M.C.; while two sons-in-law, Corpl. J. Bracewell and Pte. H. Garton, are also in the Army.

The parents have also received the following letter from Mr. James Foulds, the manager of the Skipton Co-operative Society:- "Allow me to tender you on behalf of the Society and myself our deepest sympathy with you and your family in your bereavement and sorrow in the loss of your son Laurence, who has so nobly laid down his life for the benefit of others and his county. As an employee he was one of the best, and during the whole of his employment with the Society I never remember having had occasion to say a wrong word to him. He was always cheerful and conscientious in doing his duty. Knowing this, I hope it will help you to bear the serious loss you have sustained."

18 May 1917

PRIVATE F. C. BILLOWS REPORTED MISSING

Skipton people will be sorry to hear that Pte. Frank Crossland Billows, Signaller's Section Devonshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Billows, 8 Granville Street, Skipton, is officially reported as missing since April 24th - 25th, when he is believed to have taken part in an engagement in the Balkans. Twenty-four years of age he joined up in September 1914, and went out in August 1915 to France, where in November of the same year he was transferred to Salonika. Last year he suffered from a septic knee and was nursed in a Malta hospital. He served his apprenticeship as a printer at the offices of the 'Craven Herald', and at the time of his enlistment was in the employ of a Blackburn firm of printers. He was one of the sadly diminishing number of young men who formed a Handbell Ringers' Association in connection with the Skipton Parish Church, and was afterwards a bellringer at the Blackburn Parish Church, and a member of both the Yorkshire and Lancashire Association of Change Ringers. He also at one time played cricket with the Skipton Church Institute.

15 June 1917

BILLOWS - April 24th 1917, killed in action in the Balkans, Private Frank Crossland Billows, Signallers' Section, Devonshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Billows, 8, Granville Street, Skipton, aged 24 years.

15 June 1917

SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR - PRIVATE FRANK CROSSLAND BILLOWS

In our issue of May 18th, we recorded the fact that Pte. Frank Crossland Billows, Signallers' Section, Devonshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Billows, 8, Granville Street, Skipton, was officially reported as missing since April 24th-25th after taking part in an engagement in the Balkans. At the time the parents had the worst fears for the fate of their son, and these, we are sorry to say, have now been confirmed by the receipt of an 'In Memoriam' card from the commanding officer of the regiment which reads as follows:-

"No. 15543 Pte. F.C. Billows. Killed In Action, Apri1 24th 1917.
"With deepest sympathy from the Commanding Officer and all ranks of the ----- Battalion Devonshire Regiment.
"R. M. RAYNSFORD, Major. Commanding ----- Devons."

The crest of the Regiment is reproduced on the card, together with the Regimental Colours covered by the Cross.

Twenty-four years of age, Pte Billows enlisted in September 1914, and went in August 1915 to France, from where, in November of the same year, he was transferred to Salonika. Last year he suffered from a septic knee and was nursed in a Malta hospital. He served his apprenticeship as a printer at the offices of the 'Craven Herald', and at the time of his enlistment was in the employ of a Blackburn firm of printers. He was one of the sadly diminishing number of young men who formed a Handbell Ringers' Association in connection with the Skipton Parish Church, and was afterwards a bellringer at the Blackburn Parish Church, and a member of both the Yorkshire and Lancashire Associations of Change Ringers. He also at one time played cricket with the Skipton Church Institute.

Mr. and Mrs. Billow have also received the following letter from Albert E. Ham:- "On the night of the 24th (the night of the attack) Frank left me, as cheerful as he always was, to go across to the enemy trenches, but I am sorry to say he did not turn up in the morning, nor had anyone any news of him. Have had it officially from our headquarters that he is reported missing, but still there's just the possible chance that he may be a prisoner of war, which I sincerely hope is the case. He was a fine fellow and as brave as the best. I cannot speak too highly of him, and I sympathise with you. Should I receive further particulars I shall at once inform you with the greatest pleasure."

P. Burton, one of his pals, has also written expressing his sorrow at the sad news. "I know you will feel very anxious," he adds, "but I sincerely hope that you will soon get good news of him; it is possible that he is a prisoner. I hope so."

Writing to Mr. and Mrs. Billows, Capt. C. K. Martin, O.C. 'C' Company says:- "Please accept my deepest sympathy with you in your anxiety about your son. It was after a night attack over very hilly and difficult ground that he was reported missing. We brought in all our casualties that we could find, and your son was not among them, so of course there is a small hope that he has been taken prisoner. I do trust this is the case, and that you will, before very long, get definite good news of him. We hear the Bulgar is very good to his prisoners, especially the British. Your son has been a great 'stand-by' in the Company, and we shall all miss him very much. He was among the foremost, carrying on most gallantly the night we lost him.

A letter of sympathy has also been received from H.G. Edwards, deceased's platoon sergeant, who says:- "Like many others, he (Pte. Billows) lived up to the Regimental motto of 'Ever Faithful' even to the last. I need hardly say how highly we thought of him; he being a signaller was sufficient to prove that we trusted and thought well of him. His platoon join me in expressing our deepest sympathy to you in your great bereavement."

The Vicar of Blackburn, (the Rev. Thos. R. Sale) has also written as follows:- "We all heard with sorrow of the death of your son, F. C. Billows, and send our deepest sympathy. He has died for the defence of home and country, and for the freedom of Europe and the world, and we are proud of him as of the other brave lads who have given their lives. He was, as you know, one of our band of ringers in the Parish Church belfry, and a muffled peal was rung for him last night on the Parish Church bells. He was the first of our ringers to give his life, though there are several more on active service. I was myself present in the belfry and we had a short service of prayer before the peal commenced. We were remembering you and yours at the time. He was a regular ringer and punctual in his attendance. We understand that his father is also one of the ringing craft. May we all meet when that is accomplished for which our bells stand!"

Mr. and Mrs. Billows have also received an official intimation of the sad news.

26 April 1918

BILLOWS - In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. Frank Billows, killed in action in Salonica, April 24th, 1917.

"Missed by those whose loved him best."

From Father, Mother, Brothers and Sister.

25 April 1919

BILLOWS - In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private Frank C. Billows, killed in action in Salonica, April 24th, 1917.

"Missed by those who loved him best."

From Father, Mother, Brothers and Sister.