Name
Frederick Titmuss
Circa 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
202800
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MOEUVRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. A. 21
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Frederick was born around 1887 in Hitchin. Unfortunately, there are va number of people with this name, so we have yet to identify he parents and family in the census. However, we do know that he married Annie Maud Parker Ray (b 16/8/1887) in Aylesbury, Bucks in 1909 .
In 1911 Frederick (24) and Annie (23) the family were living at 50 Chiltern Street, Aylesbury, Bucks. Frederick was working as a Grocers Assistant. The census recorded they had been married for 2 years with one child, Minnie Edith (b 1/2/1910).
Later two more children were born Dorothy May (25/3/1911) and Herbert Frederick (b 13/2/1914).
The births of the children were registered in Aylesbury (Minnie 1910. Dorothy 1911) and finally Herbert in Hitchin in 1914, so we believe the family had moved back to Hitch between 1911 and 1914.
One source suggests that before the war he was employed as a wood machinist in Letchworth, that he had been in the Territorials while living in Aylesbury and that he enlisted in Hitchin in November 1916.
Officially Frederick was recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Frederick was allocated Regimental Number 202800 and posted lo ‘D’ Company in the 4th Battalion of the Regiment. He was sent to France in February 1917 , On 17 April 1918 Frederick was recorded No. 5 Rest Camp, St Martin’s having suffered a gunshot wound in his face and subsequently received leave in March 1918.
He was gassed and wounded on his return to the front and later killed in action.
On the 27th September 1918 the Battalion moved to Quant and to an assembly position near Moevres having a difficult march in the mud and the rain. Operations began at 5.05am and within fifteen minutes all telephone wires had been cut and the Battalion came in for some stiff fighting on the Canal du Nord. They captured a number of prisoners and six field guns reaching the first objective in the Hindenburg Support Line.
He is buried in Plot l, Row A, Grave 21 in the Moeuvres Communal Cemetery Extension south east of Arras in France.
Additional Information
After his death £5 15s 7d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Annie, on 8 January 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £11 was authorised to be paid to her on 9 December 1919.
His pension cards record Annie Maud as his widow and next of kin, living at 5 Balmoral Road, Hitchin. Their children were named as Minnie Edith (b 1/2/1910), Dorothy May (25/3/1911) and Herbert Frederick (b 13/2/1914). Annie was awarded a grant of £8 on 22 October 1918 and then a pension of 32s 1d a week from 21 April 1919.
Annie and the three children were still living at 4 Balmoral Rd, Hitchin in 1921.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
