"They shall grow not old, as we that are
left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years
condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the
morning
We will remember them".
Frank, known as Frankie, Manders was born on 13th June 1914 in Farnham, Surrey (his age on his gravestone is believed to be incorrect). On 19th March 1940 at he married Beryl Cox, nee Rose at St Michael's Church in Camberley Surrey.
Frank was a professional footballer, playing for Norwich City, Crystal Palace, and Maidenhead Football Club.
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| Leading Aircraftman Frank Manders |
After the outbreak of war Frank enlisted with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force with the 911 County of Warwick Balloon Squadron.
The Balloon Command, set up on 1st November 1938, was responsible for maintaining the barrage balloon defence system throughout the British Isles. Large balloons, some containing explosives were tethered around key targets, such as industrial areas, ports and harbours to protect them from dive bombers, forcing them to fly above the balloons into the concentrated anti-aircraft fire.
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| Barrage Balloons over London |
Frank was to die under tragic circumstances, his body was found on 18th March 1942 in Powell's Pool, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield. An inquest was held into his death, The Evening Dispatch reported on Monday 23rd March 1942:
"Sutton Suicide of Football-Airman Worried By Illness.
A professional footballer, serving in the RA.F., who had always been a clean man, contracted scabies, and that so worried him that his mind became unhinged.
This was the comment of the Coroner Mr. C. W. Iliffe at an inquest at Sutton Coldfield on L.A.C., Frank Manders, aged 27, whose body was found in Powell's Pool. A verdict of "suicide while the mind was unbalanced" was returned. It was stated that Manders became so depressed about the scabies that he walked into a police station in Birmingham and intimated that he was going to commit suicide. In consequence he was sent to a hospital, where he could be under observation.
Pool Dragged
On the afternoon of 17th March, the aircraftman visited the Sutton Municipal Golf-house in Monmouth Drive, Boldmere, and borrowed a bag of clubs to play a few holes. As he had not returned by 7.30 p.m., an employee at the club-house telephoned the hospital and ascertained that he was not there. The next morning on a boggy portion of Powell's Pool a bag of golf clubs was found. Dragging operations commenced and the body of the aircraftman was found in about three feet of water 50ft from the bank."
Frank Manders was laid to rest at All saint's Maidenhead Cemetery.
A professional footballer, serving in the RA.F., who had always been a clean man, contracted scabies, and that so worried him that his mind became unhinged.
This was the comment of the Coroner Mr. C. W. Iliffe at an inquest at Sutton Coldfield on L.A.C., Frank Manders, aged 27, whose body was found in Powell's Pool. A verdict of "suicide while the mind was unbalanced" was returned. It was stated that Manders became so depressed about the scabies that he walked into a police station in Birmingham and intimated that he was going to commit suicide. In consequence he was sent to a hospital, where he could be under observation.
Pool Dragged
On the afternoon of 17th March, the aircraftman visited the Sutton Municipal Golf-house in Monmouth Drive, Boldmere, and borrowed a bag of clubs to play a few holes. As he had not returned by 7.30 p.m., an employee at the club-house telephoned the hospital and ascertained that he was not there. The next morning on a boggy portion of Powell's Pool a bag of golf clubs was found. Dragging operations commenced and the body of the aircraftman was found in about three feet of water 50ft from the bank."
Frank Manders was laid to rest at All saint's Maidenhead Cemetery.
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