Person:Frank Malins (1)

Frank Valentine Malins was a career soldier. He was a member of the Prince Of Wales Own 10th Hussars. Enlisting as a private he rose through the ranks attaining the rank of Captain shortly before he retired. Frank was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He met his wife Annie Sheehan, a Protestant, while he was stationed in Ireland and was assaulted by a member of the Sinn Fein, while he was courting her. He served with distinction in the Boer War and was mentioned in despatches. By 1901 he was a Squadron Sergeant Major. His regimental service number was 2472. After the Boer War he emigrated to Ontario, Canada with his family in 1912 on the Tunisian. For whatever reason the stay was short and he went back to England with his family within months. He also returned to his regiment. His son Arthur was too young and not fit enough to join the 10th during the First World War. Instead, he managed to join the Royal Field Artillery as a driver on a horse drawn (limber) Caisson. in 1917 a shell burst, killing both Arthur and his horse. In truth, he took several days to die. His last act was to write a letter to his mother. Annie never recovered from the loss of her son. Walter Malins was also in the military, being stationed in India for a time. Reg was never strong enough and was classified as 4f. Still, he was a brave soul who went about his duties in WW11 as an Air Raid Warden throughout the worst of the Blitz and thereafter. Daughter Sybil was a brilliant pianist and singer but Frank frowned upon the professional theatre as unbecoming. Moreover, Sybil bore a child out of wedlock. Still, the family stuck together throughout the war. Frank suffered greatly in bomb shelters because he was unable to strike back at the enemy. Upon his wife's passing in 1946 he went to live with his son Walter and his family. Sybil, her son, David and her Canadian husband Jim Allan took up residence in Victoria, BC, Canada. Later, Frank went to live with them. He couldn't adjust to life in Canada and returned to England where he spent the rest of his life.