Corporal Frank Mallinson

4468606 - Durham Light Infantry (possibly 16th Battalion)

Born January 1904 in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham

Died 9th July 1945 (Age 41) Carlisle

Son of Joseph and Isabella (nee Parslow) Mallinson

Husband of Edith (Edie) Annie (nee Spedding) Mallinson, of Glenridding House

Father of Joe (born 1932) and Tom (born 1934)

Frank Mallinson was born around 1904 in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham. He was the second son of Joseph Mallinson and his wife Isabella (nee Parslow). In 1911 the family were still living in County Durham at Fence Houses, East Rainton, where Frank was at school. Frank's father, was a Miner so he may well have brought the family to Glenridding at some point to find work at the Greenside Mine. Unfortunately we do not know too many details about Frank’s early life although it is possible that he joined the army and was based in India in the 1920s. In 2018 his grandson Joe kindly shared some family photos with us, including the ones shown here on the back of which is written “Cawnpore India, December 1925 your loving son Frank”. We know the Durham Light Infantry were based in India around this time.

We know that Frank married Edith (Edie) Annie Bowes Spedding in Carlisle around July 1932 and on Christmas Day 1932 their first child, Joseph (Joe Norman Mallinson, was born. Their address at that time was stated as Glenridding House where Frank was working as a Waiter. Their second son, Thomas (Tom) V Mallinson was born in Longtown, Cumberland which is close to where Frank is buried but this may have been a temporary relocation, as the CWGC Certificate states Edith's home as Glenridding, and Eddie Pool (son of John Pool) remembers the family in Glenridding during the war.

So far we have been unable to find any specific details of Frank Mallinson's military service. Given his possible previous military service it is probable Frank reenlisted at the start of the war. We have the two photos from the family shown below but there is unfortunately no way of getting any details from them. We have the family photo of Frank in a rowing boat (possibly on Ullswater) from 1942 and the family photo of Frank in uniform with his fellow soldiers in October 1942, which was sent to Edie and inscribed “with all my love Frank”. One possible clue is the condolence letter below written to Edie by Lance Corporal Bill Round of the 16th Battalion DLI. If Frank has served alongside Bill in the 16th Battalion then we can trace a possible route for him thanks to this website. The 16th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry was formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in early July 1940.  After much training and via moves to Dalkeith, Thetford, Folkstone and Rye, the Battalion sailed away to war on Christmas Day 1942 from Liverpool aboard the MV Staffordshire, as part of 139 Brigade of the 46th Infantry Division of the First Army (which would tie in with the photos of Frank below). Entering the frontline in the Green Hill sector of Northern Tunisia on January 17th 1943, the 16th DLI suffered grievous losses in the Battle of Sedjenane, which began for the Durhams on the morning of February 27th 1943. The 16th played a major role in the Salerno Landings of September 1943 and the subsequent gruelling campaign in Italy. In December 1944 16 DLI was flown to Greece, returning to Italy in April 1945. Eddie Pool believes that he was injured early on in the war so it’s possible he was injured in North Africa or Italy and then subsequently given a medical discharge. Eddie remembers him giving PT lessons to the school children in Glenridding.  We also have the photo of Frank and Edie at Glenridding House (below) dated 1945 - the caption says it is the “Ullswater Hotel” but at the time Glenridding House was owned by the Glenridding Hotel. All we know for certain is that Frank died on the 9th July 1945 at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle of a perforated gastric ulcer. On his death certificate his occupation is given as a “Hotel Waiter”, still at Glenridding House, so it is possible that by this time he had left the army, although this does not tie in with his probate record (see below). His brother in law JW Spedding was present at his death. We also have the moving letter of condolence sent to Edie by Lance Corporal Bill Round, HQ Company 16th DLI from the CMF (Central Mediterranean Force) an old friend.

Corporal Frank Mallinson is remembered and commemorated on The Patterdale War Memorial, in Arthuret Churchyard, Longtown, Nr Carlisle (SW of Church, Middle Aisle).

Frank's widow, Edith Mallinson, died on the 25th April 1977 and was buried alongside her husband in Arthuret Churchyard (see photo below). His son Joseph (Joe) Norman Mallinson was born in Glenridding on the 25th December 1932 and married Margaret Lloyd in the Wigan area in early 1957. Joe worked at Greenside alongside Eddie Pool and when the mine closed they moved to the Wigan area. Frank’s youngest son Thomas (Tom) V Mallinson was born in Longtown, Cumberland around June 1934 and married Patricia Rimmer towards the end of 1964.

Frank’s older brother William was born at Coal Bank, County Durham around 1900. The last record found was in the 1911 census with his family at Fence Houses, East Rainton in County Durham. His younger brother Norman was born at East Rainton, County Durham around 1907. The last record found was in the 1911 census with his family at Fence Houses, East Rainton in County Durham. His sister Margaret Ethel was born at East Rainton, County Durham around 1909. The last record found was in the 1911 census with her family at Fence Houses, East Rainton in County Durham.

We are very grateful to Frank’s grandson Joe Mallinson for sharing the photos and condolence letter with us. Joe and his family remain in touch with Eddie Pool, whose father John Pool, is remembered on this site. Eddie still lives in Patterdale and knew Frank’s children and worked with Joe at Greenside mine.

If you can add any details to the story of Frank please contact us.

Frank’s Probate Record (above) and below a copy of his death certificate.

Photos kindly shown to us by Frank’s grandson Joe including Frank with fellow soldiers in October 1942 and with one of his son’s in the 1930s.

Below a photo of Frank on what we believe could be Ullswater in 1942 and Frank and Edie outside Glenridding House in 1945.