Name
Frederick John Geary
1875
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1916
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
PS/7611
Royal Fusiliers
24th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL
Plot VII, Row M, Grave 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Not on the Berkhamsted memorials
Pre War
Frederick John Geary was born in 1875 in Berkhamsted, Herts, the son of William Owen and Sarah Ann Geary (Foster nee Gotobed), and baptised 27 April 1876 at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted.
His parents married 10 March 1873 at St Leonard’s, Shoreditch, London when Sarah was a widow. (She had married William Foster in Edmonton in the summer of 1868 but he died the following year.)
On the 1881 Census the family were living in Berkhamsted where his father was working as a carpenter. They remained in Berkhamsted in 1891, then living in the High Street where his father gave his occupation as carpenter and joiner. Frederick was not listed with them but was a servant (Page) at the home of Wadham Locke Sutton, his wife Louisa and their four children in Northchurch, Herts. Wadham Locke Sutton was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and died in 1896.
In 1901 Frederick had moved to Knowlsey, Lancashire and was working as a butler at the home of retired estate agent Mr G C Hale at Knowsley Park.
His father died in 1910 aged 64 and his mother in 1919 aged 73.
On the 1911 Census Frederick was working as a butler and living at the home of Henning Grenander, his wife Isabella and their daughter Jean, at 13 Upper Wimpole Street Marylebone, West London.
He married Frances Louisa Jerram on 17 April 1911 at St Mary’s, Watford. They had three children, George (1912) Frances (1914) and Leanie (1915). He was said to be living at St John's Wood, London when he enlisted and his address given on probate records is 319 Scottalis Gardens, St John's Wood, Middx.
His widow's address on pension records was 81 Chester Road, Watford, Herts.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted in London and served with the 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in France from 14 November 1915.
He was killed in action on 31 July 1916, aged 41, during action to the south-west of Montauben and is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow Frances received a war gratuity of £4 and pay owing of £3 7s 6d. She also received a pension of £1 6s 3d a week for herself and her three children, later increased to £1 16s 1d week from 11 September 1918. His widow was granted probate of his estate in London in June 1917 with effects of £209. She also ordered his headstone inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN".
His brother Harry Geary served with the Royal Engineers and survived the war, being discharged on 20 April 1919 when he gave his home address as Orchard End, Northchurch, nr Berkhamsted but he died in 1920 aged 36.
N.B. 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers also known as 24th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (the Queen's)
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
