Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Shipp, born on the 6th November 1834 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire and baptised on the 11th November 1835 in Wigston Magna (son of Thomas Shipp, 1796-1870 and Ann Gude, 1798-1869) and his wife Laura Shipp (nee Shipp, married on the 11th January 1872 in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, Warwickshire), born 1849 in Hardingstone, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 14th January 1849 in St. Edmund’s Church, Hardingstone (daughter of Thomas Shipp, 1824-1853 and Ann Bowen, 1823-1882). Francis Gerald was born in the April quarter of 1891 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 5th July 1891 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna. Francis’s mother died in the October quarter of 1898 in Wigston Magna, aged 49. In March 1901 Francis was residing in the family home at 80, Bull Head Street, Wigston Magna, together with his widowed father, a coal merchant and farmer, and his siblings, Thomas Edwin, born on the 19th March 1875 and baptised on the 2nd May 1875 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Charles Wright, a farmer, born in the October quarter of 1876 and baptised on the 3rd December 1876 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Jessie, born in the July quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 5th October 1879 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Arthur, a coach builder’s apprentice, born in the July quarter of 1882 and baptised on the 6th August 1882 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Esther Mary, born on the 5th April 1884 and baptised on the 1st June 1884 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and Frederick William, a hosiery trade packer, born on the 11th August 1885 and baptised on the 4th October 1885 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, all his siblings were born in Wigston Magna. Francis’s father died on the 23rd October 1902 in Wigston Magna, aged 67. In April 1911 Francis was employed as a hosiery trade order man and was residing in the family home at 32, Bell Street, Wigston Magna, together with his brother, Charles, a farmer and grazier and his sister, Edith Ellen, born on the 27th March 1888 in Wigston Magna and baptised on the 1st July 1888 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna. Francis also had the following siblings, Albert George, born in the July quarter of 1872 and baptised on the 6th October 1872 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Laura Anna, born in the January quarter of 1874 and baptised on the 1st February 1874 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and Wilfred Henry, born in the April quarter of 1878 and baptised on the 7th July 1878 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, all the siblings were born in Wigston Magna.
Francis enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 12th October 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 3322. He gave his present address as 4, Manor Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 12th October 1914 and recorded his declared age as 23 years 180 days, that he was 5-feet 9 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 36½ inches and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his brother, Albert George Shipp, Bulls Head Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 12/10/14.
Posted. To 2/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 12/10/14.
Embodied service commenced. 12/10/14.
Transferred. To 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 15/8/15.
Embarked. From Southampton. 19/8/15.
Disembarked. At Rouen. 20/8/15.
Joined. 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 14/9/15.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Assumed dead on or since. 13/10/15.
Struck off strength of Bn. from 11/12/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 12/10/14 – 19/8/15. 312 days.
France. 20/8/15 – 13/10/15. 55 days.
Total Service. 1 year 2 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Thursday, November 18th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. - THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Private FRANK SHIPP, 1st/4th Leicestershire Regiment, posted as missing after the engagement on the 13th October, is the youngest brother of Mr. Albert G. Shipp, of Wigston Magna. Any more definite information that his friends may be able to give would be thankfully received at Wigston.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour in which Francis is shown to have been a pupil at the school between the years 1901 and 1906.