Pte. Francis Pugh was a member of the Burlton and Loppington Home Guard during WW2.

Little is unfortunately known about the details of his H.G. service but he was a member of the Battalion's 5th Platoon whose area of resonsibility appears to have covered Burlton and Loppington. Frank Pugh was one of no less than 17 children, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pugh who ran the Cross Keys Inn at Burlton for many years. Frank worked for Messrs. E. Jones and Son at Wem Saw Mills and was a member of the Loppington Youth Service Squad as well as the Home Guard. He was very highly regarded in the Loppington area where his family had lived for several generations.

This large number of sons and daughters all survived WW2 with the exception of Pte. Charles Edward Pugh who died in North Western Europe late in 1944 or early 1945 at the age of 30 leaving a wife and two children: and regrettably with the exception of Frank himself.

Francis Pugh died on an unknown date in the Royal Salop Infirmary, the day after being knocked off his bicycle in Burlton. The list of those attending the funeral at Loppington Parish Church, as well as those sending floral tributes, is large. Members of the Burlton Home Guard formed a cycling escort for the cortege and the local H.G. organisation was well represented. Those present included Major A.S.C. Fothergill (almost certainly the Company Commander), Lt. Norman Lockett (Platoon C.O.), Sgt. E. Astley and Pte. J. Williams (quoted as "representing the Loppington Home Guard"). The bearers were Home Guardsmen A. Roberts, T. Bailey and J. Grice togeher with Fireman H. Bailey of the N.F.S.

A Home Guard member who did not live to see and enjoy the fruits of his efforts and a lifetime of peace in rural Shropshire. May he be remembered.