Second World War veteran served in Burma in Bomber Squadron

Frank was born on May 12, 1922 in Haslingden, Lancashire. His father was a bus driver, later a bus engineer.

Frank celebrating with family and friends

Frank joined the RAF in 1940, aged 18. He sailed with his squadron from Liverpool to India, via South Africa and Singapore, and was posted to Burma, where he was a wireless operator on several types of aircraft, including the C46 (Daxota Dc3) and Lancaster Bomber. He served in the 215 Bomber Squadron, attacking the advancing Japanese army from the air, and also in the 199 Squadron, dropping ammunition and food to troops on the ground in Burma.

Frank in uniform when he was stationed in India

After four years in Burma, Frank returned to the UK and became a training officer with the RAF. In 1946, after six years of service, he returned to civilian life and trained as an accountant, working at Ross Milis in Bacup, Lancashire.

He married his wife, Irene, in 1947 and they remained together until Irene passed away in 2014. The couple had two sons, Jeffrey and Peter, three grandchildren, John, Georgina and Ben, two great-grandchildren and eight step great-grandchildren.

Frank with his late wife, Rene

To supplement his income as a trainee accountant, Frank worked as a projectionist at a local cinema. His wife, Rene, owned a haberdashery stall at the family home in Stacksteads, between Bacup and Rawtenstall.

In the 1960s the family moved to Idle and Frank took up the position of company secretary at Salts Mill. He later joined Greenwoods Menswear as company secretary until he retired. In retirement, Frank helped his son Peter, who had a travel agency in Saltaire. Frank often went as tour manager on short breaks, many operating with Telegraph & Argus Reader Holidays.

In 2012 Frank and Rene moved from their home on Westfield Lane, Idle, where they had lived for over 40 years. They moved to Jowett Court retirement complex in Idle, where Frank enjoys an active social life and until recently organised quizzes and social evenings. Say Frank’s family: “He has enjoyed a healthy life and until this year had never attended a civilian hospital - the last time being in Burma when he was shot!

“Frank is a member of the Burma Star Association and on a solar eclipse trip in 2015, organised by his son, Peter, he met a doctor and his wife who were born and brought up in the village in Burma where Frank was stationed. The doctor remarked that the RAF Mess is still there and indeed there is an outstanding bar bill! They had photos taken with Frank to put on the wall of the bar.

“Frank also helped a history lesson when three of his step great-grandchildren moved to Hong Kong and asked him to provide information for pupils studying the Second World War. Once again, Frank’s photographs went across the world. Once the children returned from Hong Kong, he did the same at their school in Garforth, following by a lively Q&A session.”

Frank enjoyed playing cricket and won cups for his local team. His interest in astronomy led him to Norway, where he met impressionist Jon Culshaw and the BBC’s Sky at Night presenter Peter Lawrence, who became his friends and were invited to his birthday celebrations.

Frank sitting on a bench bought by fellow residents at Jowett Court

Frank enjoyed a 100th birthday party with Jowett Court residents, followed by a lunch for family and close friends.