MARKWELL, FRANK ERIC
Rank:
Service No:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment/Service:
Grave Reference:
Text on stone:
Lieutenant
177910
23/09/1944
30
53rd Regiment Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.
II. F. 15
Till we meet again core of my heart
wife and daughter Erica
Additional information:
Son of Thomas William Phoenix Markwell and Emily May Markwell; husband of Ethel Markwell, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Initially buried at the churchyard of the Roman Catholic Church at Bergeijk.
I am the daughter of Frank Eric Markwell (known to everyone as Eric) and Ethel Markwell, nee Griffiths. They were married in Milton Parish Church, Stoke-on-Trent on 3rd February 1943.
As you already know, my Father was killed on 23rd September 1944, four days after his 30th birthday. I was born on 2nd December 1944, so I never knew him at all. Mum used to talk about him, but as a child it all seemed like a story to me and I have to admit that I do not remember a lot of what she said, so I do not know how much help I can be.
Dad’s parents were Thomas William Phoenix Markwell and Emily May Markwell, but I believe they had separated before Mum and Dad’s marriage. Dad had an older sister, Eileen, who married Thomas (Tommy) Lomas. They had three children, William (known as Bill), Jennifer and Ryan. I was told that Bill was a purser on the Queen Mary, but I have no more details on that. Again, as far as I remember Tommy was a butcher and owned, or at least ran several businesses in the southeast of England at various times.
I have attached a couple of photographs, one of Dad in his uniform and another taken on Mum and Dad’s wedding day.
