Francis James Bradbeer

Known as Frank he was the leader of the Boys Brigade from 1934-1945. In 1939 he was a Deputy Officer in the ARP.

Frank was, at the time of the outbreak of war, working as a gardener and general assistant and chauffeur to the Pitts-Tucker family, whose house was Kings Close, then on the very edge of Barnstaple. Frank turned most of the gardens over to a market garden and thus was in a reserved occupation.

He seemingly said little or nothing to his family until a few years before his death. His nephew had no knowledge of his involvement until the day of his funeral, when a tantalising mention was made of it by the Minister at Barnstaple Baptist Church, where Frank had been an elder, lay preacher and secretary at various times in the past. Frank's son and brother had a conversation and gathered the basics that Frank had been in the resistance and pretty active. 

Frank was a countryman of the old school and a decent shot with a rifle, presumably from shooting rabbits and crows that were attacking crops.