The 1921 census is a treasure trove of information that offers insights into the lives of our ancestors. Scotlandpeople.gov.uk recently released an article revealing a remarkable discovery from the census – the youngest person enumerated was only one hour old. This article tells the incredible story of Edward Robert Lockhart Batchelor, who would later be known as Lockhart Frain-Bell.
At just one hour old, Edward was listed as living with his parents, Edward Batchelor and Jenny Frain, and a domestic servant in 6 Oakwood Terrace, Dundee. Edward’s remarkable life is a testament to the power of timing, as he went on to achieve great things in medicine, travel, and the arts.
After obtaining a scholarship to study medicine at the University of St Andrews, Frain-Bell went on to become a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, treating the wounded from the Normandy landings on D-Day at a hospital in Bradford. He then went on to serve in Burma and successfully treated many of the sick and wounded with the then-new ‘miracle drug’ penicillin.
Frain-Bell’s lifelong passion for travel was sparked during his time in the military, and he went on to visit the then unconquered Mount Everest in 1945. After his military service, Frain-Bell worked at Bradford Royal Infirmary before receiving training in radiology at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and St. Thomas’s Hospital in London. He became the youngest person to hold the post of Consultant Radiologist in South-West Scotland at the age of 40.
Frain-Bell also established the General Practitioner Reference Service, which allowed patients to receive specialist treatment by GP referral, making a significant contribution to the field of medicine. He remained active in his retirement, supporting colleagues at Longmore Hospital in West Cumbria, and indulging in his hobbies of painting and travelling.
Lockhart Frain-Bell’s legacy of care and learning is an admirable one, and his remarkable life is a testament to the importance of timing. The discovery of his presence in the 1921 census just one hour after his birth is a fascinating footnote in the long and productive life of a remarkable man. This story highlights the incredible value of genealogical research and the discoveries that can be made by delving into the lives of our ancestors.