Name
Bartle Laurie Stuart Frere
14 March 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, MESNIL-MARTINSART
B. 35
France
Headstone Inscription
OUR UNION
UK & Other Memorials
St James’ Church Memorial, Thorley,
Working Men’s Club / Village Hall Memorial, Thorley,
Not on the Bishop's Stortford memorials
Pre War
Bartle Laurie Stuart Frere was born on 14 March 1896 to Laurie and Maud Mary Frere and baptised on 25 April 1896 in Thorley, Herts. On the 1901 Census the family were living at Allerford House, Selworthy, Somerset where the father was said to be "living on his own means". He was educated at Eton College. The family later lived at Edwardstone House, Colchester, Essex and Twyford House, Bishop's Stortford, Herts.
N.B. The name Bartle seems to be popular amongst other branches of the Frere family..
Wartime Service
Bartle was at Eton at the outbreak of the War and immediately applied for a Commission. He was given one in the 4th Batt. (old Hertfordshire Militia) Bedfordshire Regiment. After training at Dovercourt he went to France in May 1915. He was invalided home on account of dysentery in September 1915 but recovered and returned to France in 1916 and was killed in action near Beaumont Hamel on November 13th, 1916. The following account is given of his death:- "He had gone over in command of his company, had been severely wounded in the thigh, bound up & left in comparative safety in a shell hole. His men were making good, but suffering cruelly Bartle could not bear it: he must cheer them on, must lead them morally, be with them even on his hands & knees. Up & out he struggles, is immediately shot through the head, & is said to have died with a smile on his face."
Additional Information
His father received his pay owing of £109 10s 1d. Probate was granted to his father on 9 February 1917 with effects of £95 18s 1d.
N.B. Although on the CGWC his name is listed as Bartlett, the original grave registration form only lists initials and the Grave Registration Book gives the correct name of Bartle.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
John E. I. Procter (Rector of Thorley) * Bill Hardy * Philip Hargrave - www.friends-stjames.org, Jonty Wild
