Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 23 September 1939

Great Houghton Casualty
Lost In Sinking of H.M.S. Courageous
Through Great War Without A Scratch
Mr. Frank Makings.

A telegram reached Mrs. Annie Makings on Wednesday at dinner time from the War Office, stating that her husband, Mr. Frank Makings, had gone down in the aircraft carrier “Courageous,” which was torpedoed on Sunday. The telegram stated “Deeply regret to report death of your husband from War Service. Marines, Plymouth.”

The message dashed the hopes of Mrs. Makings, and her three daughters and two sons, who had held out hope of Mr. Makings’ survival, since they saw the name of “Frank Meakin” among the list of survivors on the “Courageous.” They thought this was a mis-print for “Makings.”

Mr. Frank Makings, who was 41 and resided at Vaughan Terrace, Great Houghton, was attached to the Royal Marines, and went through the Great Wath without receiving a scratch. He saw service on H.M.S. Lion and H.M.S. Furious.

When war broke out he was called up with the Reservists, and his wife received a letter from him on Monday morning.

He was of a very cheerful disposition and well known at Great Houghton, where he was a member of Great Houghton Working Men’s Club. He worked at Grimethorpe Colliery. Last week he wrote a letter to his daughter, Miss Olive Makings, who is engaged in domestic service, and asked her to look after her mother. She is the eldest daughter of a family of three daughters and two sons.

Mr. Makings was the first man in the district known to have actually been engaged during the war as yet.

From C.W.G.C.:

Marine
FRANK MAKINGS
Service Number: PLY/18561

Regiment & Unit/Ship: Royal Marines H.M.S. Courageous.

Date of Death :Died 17 September 1939

Age 41 years old

Buried or commemorated at PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Panel 35, Column 2.