Name
Frederick Field
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/09/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27772
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, High Street Methodist Church Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Frederick was born in Harpenden in 1879, He was the fourth son of John Field and Sarah (nee Burgess).
On both the 1901 and 1911 census Frederick was employed in the straw hat industry, firstly as a hat stiffener and secondly as a packer at Smith and Hall, Luton. He was a Sunday School teacher and lay preacher at the Methodist Church, Harpenden where he is recorded on their Roll of Honour.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted in 1916 in 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He was killed in action on the Somme. The actual date is quoted as 10 Sep or 15 Sep.
According to their war diary the 8th were engaged in attack training on 10 Sep and no casualties reported: on 15 Sep the battalion attacked the Quadrilateral (German defensive position). The preliminary bombardment was cut short causing casualties to the attacking troops, 7 Officers were killed but no other ranks killed although there were wounded.
Frederick’s body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 9s 6d paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History
Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
