Name
Frederick John Fuller
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10621
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE
III. H. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford
Pre War
Frederick
John Fuller was born in 1897 to Henry and Hannah Fuller in Bishop's Stortford
and baptised on 11 April 1895 at Holy Trinity church, Bishop's Stortford. In 1901 Frederick, aged 4, was living with his
parents, at 4 Hockerill Terrace, London Road, Bishop’s Stortford, next door to
Arthur Petty (also named on the United
Reformed Church and Town memorials. On the 1911 Census he was living with his
family at 55 South Mill Road, Bishop's Stortford, age 14, and working as a golf
caddie.
Wartime Service
Frederick was aged 17 and living in Hertford when he enlisted with a group of friends, making him one of the boy soldiers. He served in France from 30 July 1915.
He was killed during the Battle of Pozieres (2nd key phase of the Battle of the Somme). The Regiment’s War Diary for the day of his death reports that 3 officers and 32 other ranks were killed.
A letter from his company officer informed his
parents that their son was missing after an attack but that he had not
officially been ‘returned as killed’. He expressed his sympathy and added that
their son had always worked well and would be a great loss. He hoped that
Private Fuller was perhaps only wounded. In a letter a Stortfordian from the
same regiment wrote stating that he saw Private Fuller lying dead. A few days
later another Stortford family received a letter from their son who had met a
soldier “Who went over with young Fuller. He thought a bullet caught him
straight through the head as he went down like a stone.” Mr. & Mrs. Fuller
had to wait 10 months before their son was officially reported killed.
Additional Information
His father Henry received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £2 3s 6d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jenny Clough
