Frank Henry Hider was born on 15 January 1886 in Islington, Middlesex (now Greater London), the fifth of the seven children of James Hider (1852-1904) and Isabella Hider née Turner (1848-1895). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1886 in the Islington registration district.
On 4 March 1889 he was admitted into the Bow High Street School, Bromley-by-Bow, Middlesex (now Greater London). The school admissions register showed that his family were living at 4 Raverley Street, Poplar.
He was shown as a scholar, aged 5 years, in the 1891 census, living in 3 rooms of 7 Holden Road, Bromley-by-Bow, with his parents and three of his siblings: Ernest Phillip Hider (1877-1964); Alice M. Hider (b.1880) and Florence Esther Hider (b.1888). His father was described as a constable in the Metropolitan Police.
In the 1901 census he was recorded as a 15-year-old boy under training on the Warspite Training Ship in the River Thames off Hardens Manorway, Charlton, Woolwich, London.
On 29 September 1903 he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Division, service number 14088. He was shown as a Private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in the 1911 census aboard HMS Patrol, a scout cruiser, that was moored in Harwich Harbour, Essex.
On 30 July 1916 he married Edith Eliza Knowles (1894-1968) at Christ Church, Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 30 years, a bachelor, serving in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and living at 31 Selcroft Road, Greenwich, whilst his wife was described as a spinster residing at the same address, the daughter of James Wilson Knowles, a labourer. He and his wife had three children: Edith Charlotte Hider (1917-2014); Winifred Hilda Hider (1920-1975) and Frank James Hider (1925-1947).
Following the end of World War One he was presented with the 1914 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal whilst serving aboard HMS Hecla, a torpedo boat carrier/depot ship.
Electoral registers until 1925 show him and his wife still residing at 31 Selcroft Road, Greenwich, but from 1926 they were shown at 7 King George Street, Greenwich. Whilst in the 1939 England and Wales Register his family is shown as living at 7 King George Street, Greenwich, he is listed at the home Minnie A. & Dorothy J. Waterman at 13 Westcourt Street, Gillingham.
He was killed, aged 58 years, as result of enemy action when a German V1 Flying Bomb fell on the Royal Victoria Yard on 16 August 1944 killing seven and injuring 74 people. His body was buried on 21 August 1944 at Greenwich Cemetery, Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6TZ.
Probate records confirm that his address had been 7 King George Street, Greenwich and that probate was granted to his widow on 28 September 1944. His effects totalled £771-6s-1d.
He is shown as Hider F H on the Royal Victoria Yard war memorial that is located at The Colonnade, Grove Street, London, SE8 and as Hider, Frank Henry on the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on the Lewisham War Memorials website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
