Eric Frank Penn

Rank: Captain

Regiment: 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards

Parents: Mr William & Mrs Constance Penn

Parents-in-Law: Mr & Mrs C J Ebden

Wife: Mrs Gladys Penn

Address: Baldslow Place, Baldslow, Hastings

Other Info: The text reads: “… was killed in action in France on 8th October (1915). He was 37 years of age, and the eldest son of Mr & Mrs William Penn of St Alban’s Court, Nottingham. In 1891 he entered Mr Radcliffe’s House at Eton where he gained very conspicuous all-round athletic success. He played football for Eton, and was also in the cricket eleven in his last year. He won the school quarter mile, putting the weight and throwing the cricket ball, the latter being a throw of 106 yards. In 1898 Mr Penn went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, and received his cricket blue the following year when Mr G L Jessop was captain. At one time it was thought that Mr Penn would play for his county. but at that time the eleven was so rich in batsmen that only a cricketer of exceptional strength had a chance of inclusion. Shortly after this came the Boer War, and from 1900 to 1901 Mr Penn served in South Africa with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Scots attaining the rank of Captain. After the war he returned to Cambridge, played against Oxford in 1902, after which he entered business, becoming a partner in the firm of Sir R W Carden & Co. He joined the Norfolk Yeomanry at the outbreak of the present war and in April last was transferred to the Special Reserve of the Grenadier Guards, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He went to France with the 4th Battalion in August, and a month later, after the Battle of Loos was promoted to Captain. He was married to Gladys Eveleen, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ebden in 1906. Of his two brothers, the younger in the Rifle Brigade was killed in February last and the other in the Grenadier Guards, was severely wounded in May and is still at home on sick leave.

According to CWGC, Eric is remembered at Vermelles British Cemetery, grave reference I.K.11. He had been mentioned in Despatches.

Published: November 1915

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