456089 Private Francis James Gleed of the Royal Army Medical Corps died on October 28, 1918. He was not killed in action, neither did he die from wounds or disease, but he did die as a direct result of his military service.
Francis James Gleed was born in 1893 the third of four sons of blacksmith striker Thomas Gleed and his wife Elizabeth. Unlike his two elder brothers, Francis did not follow his father into the railway works but instead took up a tailor’s apprenticeship.
Francis enlisted in Swindon on May 11, 1915 in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was posted with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on November 30, 1915. His military service would last for 3 years 199 days, most of it spent in Egypt. Francis continued to serve in the 231st F.A. before being transferred to France in May 1918. Three months later he was granted 14 days leave to the UK, the last time he would see his family in Swindon.
His medical notes detail the nature of his injury which occurred in March 1916 when he was loading an ambulance train in Minia Station, Egypt. He was working with a bearer party when he strained himself, causing a hernia. An operation was successfully performed, but Francis complained of a recurrence in October 1918. After wearing a truss with unsuccessful results he was admitted to the 32 Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to the 54 Casualty Station before being moved to the 7 Stationary Hospital where he died on October 28, 1918. His cause of death was an inguinal hernia caused by a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdomen.
Francis James Gleed was buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille on the northern outskirts of Boulogne. The inscription on his headstone as submitted by his mother Elizabeth reads – Life’s Work Well Done Life’s Race Well Run Life’s Crown Well Won Now Comes Rest
In 1921 Thomas Gleed took receipt of his son’s 1914-1915 Star Medal followed a year later by his British War and Victory Medals.
On April 22, 1919 Francis’s personal effects were returned to his family. They were listed as follows:
Letters
2 religious books
Valet safety razor in case
Metal cig. Case
Pipe
2 titles
Purse
2 wallets
Photos
Note book
P. cards
Safety razor & blades in tin box
Defaced coin 5 cts coin ½
However, there was something of far more significance that Elizabeth wanted returned. She acknowledged receipt of the above mentioned items and wrote:
There is my sons 2 pairs of scissors one large and one small and a pen knife white handle – should be pleased if you could find it and send it on. Yours truly E. Gleed.
The scissors were possibly tools of his tailoring trade tangible reminders of the son she had lost and the career he had pursued at home in Swindon.
Francis James Gleed is remembered on the Gleed family headstone in Radnor Street Cemetery.
“Say what sons & brothers should be. They were.”
Radnor Street Cemetery 