Francis (Frank) Wren (Wrenn)

Francis was born in 15 January 1885 in Richmond St. Longford. 

In 1905 Francis enlisted with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment in Longford, and on his attestment stated that he had previous experience with the Manchester Militia*. He enlisted under the surname Wren. He served in India until 1912, when he was transferred to the reserve where he served up to the outbreak of WW1. 

Wrenn was one of the first British troops to be sent to the front, departing on the 13 August 1914, but had been taken prisoner of war on the 24 August by the 128th German Regiment, after the Battle of Mons, where he fought in the 3rd Brigade, part of the 8th Division. He was held in a series of POW camps in Germany including: Gustrow, Lubeck, Flensburg, Wohlde Schleswig and Austrad.  After this, Wrenn was interned at the Villa Pyrole, Leysin, Switzerland. Although Switzerland was neutral in the Great War, from 1916 approximately 68,000 Allied soldiers, suffering from various maladies, were interned there as a humanitarian measure unde the auspices of the International Red Cross. Leysin tended to cater for British Army soldiers with tuberculosis.

After his passing, the Longford Leader published the following on the 31 March 1917: 'PRIVATE FRANCIS WRENN - 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, who died on his way home, after having been released in a dying condition as prisoner of war in Germany. Deceased, who was a son of Mr. John Wrenn, Richmond St., and brother of Mrs. Gannon, Bridge St., Longford, had served 12 years with the Colours, and at the outbreak of the war was immediately transferred from India to France. He was taken prisoner at Mons, and kept for nearly two years in Germany. Here he was taken seriously ill, and although everything possible was done for him he never rallied, dying in a London hospital on Tuesday last. R.I.P'

Francis died shortly after being discharged from the army in Februar

Link to CWGC entry; Link to Red Cross POW file; prisoners of war in Switzerland;