Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps
Frances Mary Tooby was born in Ledbury, Herefordshire in 1894, daughter of Arthur Tooby (1866-1932), a stockman and slaughterman, and Mary Elizabeth (formerly Russell) (1858-1905).
The family moved from Ledbury to Rockfield, Monmouth and then by 1901 they had moved to English Bicknor. Her widowed father remarried in 1909. She had a brother, Arthur Thomas, born 1896.
In 1911 she was living at Lords Hill, Ashleworth, Gloucestershire with her aunt and uncle who were Alice and Frederick Webb, and assisting on their farm.
It is not known when Francis joined Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps but had risen to the rank of Forewoman (Cook) by the time of her death.
Frances Mary Tooby died aged 24 of pneumonia at the Auxiliary Hospital, Woolwich on 14 November 1918 and was buried with her mother at English Bicknor (St Mary) Churchyard.
Her grave is marked by a large, traditional style, Forest stone, private, headstone and she is also commemorated on the Coleford War Memorial.
Research by Eric Nicholls 21 December 2019