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A complicated life to follow.
But
Putting that together eventually gave me
1893 Oct 8 Born 10 Sun Street., Lancaster, Lancs as Frank Elba Fenton. But I cannot get him in the censuses. Birth Name: Frank Elba Fenton
Father: Albert Edward Fenton .
Mother: Ada Fenton formerly Webb
Occupation of Father: Athlete
Birth Location: 10 Sun Street, Imorecambe.
Residence of Father: 9 Sackville Street, Reading
It would appear that Ada Webb earlier married a George Beckett in Marylebone in Apr/Jun 1887
1900 His father Albert Edward Fenton died in a trapeze accident whist practicing
1910 Dec 17 His mother married in Glasgow , of 315 Argyle Street, Glasgow married William J Carre, who also used the Surname Dodds
1910 Census at 100 Buccland St, Glasgow. On the next page are also George Arthur Fenton (aged 13) and Albert Edward Fenton (aged 11)
1914 Nov 29. Bert Carre joined the Gordon Highlanders in November 1914. His service number was (7305) and his term of enlistment was for three years or the duration of the war. He was posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion of the regiment which was in the process of being formed and served with that unit until he went to France in 1915.
1915 Jan Appointed L/Cpl
1915 Apr Promoted Cpl.
1915 May . Promoted Lance Sergeant (Senior Corporal)
1915 Jul . Promoted Sgt.
1915 Nov. He was sent to France with a draft of reinforcements and posted to one of the regiment's battalions serving on the Western Front. As the winter weather precluded any large scale battles the conflict was restricted to trench warfare, with sickness from exposure being the main health problem
1916 May. He was invalided back to the UK with bronchitis, rejoining the 11th Battalion, and then returning to France a month later. This would have been in time for the various battles which collectively made up the Battle of the Somme which lasted between 1st July and mid November 1916. The following year in April 1917 he would likely have taken part the following year in the Battle of Arras.
1917 Jul 27 Commissioned 2nd Lt Gordon Highlanders - Bert Carre. Posted to the 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, as a platoon commander. This had been a pre-war unit of the Territorial Force and was part of the 51st (Highland) Division. As such he took part in the Battle of Passchendaele (officially the Third Battle of Ypres) which was fought between 31st July and November 1917 during which his unit suffered heavy casualties after which trench warfare resumed until the following Spring.
1918 Mar 23. Taken Prisoner of War . With 6th Battalion at the time. The final German Offensive began on 21st March 1918 and as far as the 6th Gordons were concerned the attack struck the battalion at Boursies near Bapaume. Heavy casualties resulted with Bert being wounded and taken prisoner. His period of captivity was short with the Armistice being declared on 11th November which effectively ended the war. He was released and repatriated to the UK on 5th January 1919.
1918 Dec 27. Temp. 2nd Lt. B. Carre to be temp. Lt., with precedence next below S. C. Henderson.
1919 Jan 1. Repatriated back to UK. The Army List of February 1919 shows him as being attached to the 9th (Pioneer) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, but as this unit was demobilised soon afterwards he would have been discharged at that time and returned to civilian life.
1919 May 9 Discharged, as a Lt
1920 Nov 29. Joined ADRIC with service no 1120. Posted to L Coy
1921 Jan 14. Posted to Depot (In 1921 ,his brother George Arthur Fenton also joined RIC, but did not go into ADRIC - he was not commissioned in WW1. )
1921 Feb 23. Struck off strength". Coates was also struck off the same day
1921 Mar 17. Relinquishes the rank of Lt on enlistment into the RAF - B Carre, late temp Lt Gordon Highlanders. This ties with his daughters birth cert "Sgt in RAF"
His RAF record says "Current Engagement" From 17-3-21 to discharge 4-2-30. Total service (RAF) 9 years and 17 days.
1923 Daughter Jeanne born. Jeanne Fenton/Searle It has both names on registrar. Born Brentford with mother Searle. The indication is that the parents were not married when the child was born
1923. Worth looking at Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files. . Divorce Court File: 3436. Appellant: Ethel May Fenton. Respondent: Frank Fenton. Type: Wife's petition for divorce . Reference: J 77/2025/3436 There is a marriage of "Frank Fenton" to Ethel May Garlick in Sheffield in 1911
1926 Nov 27. Linton, Cambs marriage of Ada E Searle to Bert Carre (vol 3b, p110). Ada Stow was born Nov. 11, 1890. However, she was married before to a Reuben T. Searle in 1915.
I sent for Bert Carre and my grandmother, Ada Elizabeth Searle's marriage certificate. Now this lists his father as William Carre who's occupation was "cinema proprietor". Secondly, it states that Bert Carre at the time of marriage 27 Nov. 1926 was in the RAF as a sergeant and a No. 346265 was also at the top of RAF. The number had been hand written. The residence at the time of marriage was "The Aerodrome Duxford".. Both were listed at 33 years of age. Not sure that accurate. I believe my grandmother was a year older.
His RAF record lists his character as "very good" and his proficiency was rated "superior". The only foreign assignment recognized was Iraq (70 (B) Sqd) 15-10-27. 7 promotions from 17-3-21 through to 1-1-28.
1930 Jun 27. Reserve of Officers. Gordons—Bert Carre, late Gordons, to be Lt.
1934 Feb Working as a stunt man
1938 Jul 21. Court case involving a fire on a set.
1938 Oct 13. Bert Carre , Director of The Close, Denham Green, Bucks age 45, leaves UK for Port Said. He lives in England and travels 1st class.
1939 Register Living with wife Ada at Orchard Tree Cottage , Wycombe. He is a Assistant Director Production Films. It notes he was an officr in Leicester Regt
1946 Oct 14. died Hackney Hospital, Hackney, England age 53 (died as Bert Carre). Quarter Master U.N.R.R.A. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
On his birth certificate he is listed as Frank Elba Fenton bn 1893. On my mothers birth certificate and her sisters he is listed Frank Elba Fenton - Sergeant Royal Air Force year 1923. On my mothers marriage certificate he is listed as Frank Elba Carre otherwise Fenton - Quarter Master U.N.R.R.A year 1946. Also, my mother is also listed as a Carre now on the marriage certificate. His death certificate he is simply Bert Carre - U.N.R.R.A officer year 1946. Ada Stow was born Nov. 11, 1890. However, she was married before to a Reuben T. Searle in 1915. My grandfather was her second marriage. Secondly, on Frank Elba Fentons birth certificate, his mother is listed as "Ada Fenton formerly Webb".I think I told you previously that I have requested Bert Carre's Gordon Highlander records. The Gordon Highlanders have been very very helpful and also indicated they had a picture of Bert Carre as well. Family information
Note - There was a PO Elba Fenton died on HMS Prince of Wales in 1941. He was born Bridlington on 20 May 1904 . RN record in TNA
There is also a William Elba Fenton b 1 May 1904 who served in RE. His mother is Mrs Annie Fenton, 24 Marshall St, Middlesborough when he enlisted in 1920, he left 3 months later and enlisted in Royal Navy