James Francis Inman

Biography

James Francis Inman was known as Frank. He was born in Natland to William Jackson and Isabella Margaret Inman in the Autumn of 1900. William was 54 and Margaret 35 when Frank was born, the youngest of their six children, one girl and five boys. He was baptised on 30th September 1900 in St. Mark’s Church. At this time the family lived at Church View, Natland but had lived at Powder Works Cottage. William was a stoker at the Gunpowder Works.

Service Record

Frank joined the army towards the end of the war on the 24th September 1918 as 87809 Private James Francis Inman of the 53rd Battalion the Manchester Regiment. This unit had only been formed in the October of 1917 and was previously known as the 74th Training Reserve. It was a unit specially formed for young soldiers. The 53rd Manchester (Young Soldiers) Battalion was permanently based at Conwy, Wales but it is believed that Frank served for a short time with the army of occupation in Germany.

He was suffering from tuberculosis and was discharged as an invalid on the 29th October 1919.

Medals

He was entitled to the War and Victory Medals.

How They Died

Frank entered Meathop Sanatorium, near Grange, where he died on the 28th August 1920 aged 19.

Where They Rest

He is buried in St. Mark’s Churchyard, Natland in a Commonwealth War Grave and is also recorded on the Natland War Memorial. At his funeral Frank’s body was borne by his old school fellows. The floral tributes included one from the parishioners of Natland and one from his ‘pals.’

There is only one reference in the log book of St. Mark’s School, to former pupils who lost their lives in the period of the First World War, and it is to James Francis Inman. When he was buried the children at School (it was next door to the Church then) stood in silence round the School flagpole where the Union Flag flew at half-mast.