Name
Bertram William Froy
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1917
25 (*1)
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30592
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
"D" Coy.
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
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Bertram Willaim Froy was born in 1888 in Hitchin and christened on 10 October 1888. His parents were William and Sarah Froy and he attended Hitchin Boys British School.
In 1901 the family were living at 96 Queen Street, Hitchin. His father, William, was now widowed and working as a painter. So Bertram’s mother had died. The children listed Present were both parents: xxx and x, with x and working as a painter. Their children were: Alfred (27), Emma (22), Arthur (18), Lizzie (15) and Bertram (12).
Bertram married Elizabeth Jane Kerbyshire early in 1909.
By 1911 they were living at 2 Biggin Lane, Hitchin and one daughter Annie aged 2. Bertram was working as a bricklayer and the census recorded they had been married for 2 years with 1 child. Some records suggest that they had a second child later, but as yet this has not been corroborated.
Officially he was recorded as born and living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Bertram was given Regimental Number 30592. He joined in June 1916 and went to France in November 1916. He was in ‘D’ Company of the 4th Battalion and was killed in action in France.
At first he was reported as missing and enquiries of the British Red Cross on 20 July 1917.
but his death was confirmed until September 1917 and reported in the local papers in October. At that time his wife was living at Ivy Hill, Seymour's Yard, Hitchin. Death presumed ‘on or since’ 11 February 1917.
On the 11th February 1917, south of the River Ancre, the Battalion was ordered to advance to the left of the 188th Brigade line, but owing to wire, which had not been located previously, the attack was only partially successful and 70 casualties were incurred.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Pier 2 Face C of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death £2 14s 7d was authorised to go to his widow, Elizabeth on 9 April 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 17 January 1920.
The pension cards record his widow as his next of kin, but she was recorded as Elizabeth Jane Hulbert (formerly Froy), of 51, Lonsdale Rd., Bayswater, London. So she had remarried, and if fact married Harry Hilbert in Kensington in April 1919.
His sister placed at least one In Memoriam notice in the local paper, and one that has been found was in the Hertfordshire Express on 15 February 1919.
*1 The CWGC recorde his age at deayth as 25, but we believe he was 29.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
