Name
Frederick Weedon
7 May 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/01/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
3/7876
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
'D' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOIS-GUILLAUME COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
C. 3B.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore,
St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street,
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Frederick was born on 7 May 1888 in St Albans to James Weedon, a labourer, and Emma (née Freeman). His parents married 25 February 1866 at Christ Church, Radlett, Hertfordshire. James died 1908 in Frogmore, Herts, and was buried 11 February at Holy Trinity, Frogmore.
On the 1891 Census, Fredrick was recorded as a nurse child, aged 2, living in Frogmore, St Stephens with the Jefford Family. His parents with Harriet (a domestic servant, born 1871), George (agricultural labourer born 1877) and Alice (born 1883) were living in Frogmore, Colney Street.
Frederick attended Colney Street C of E J.M.I. School, Frogmore, from 30 November 1891 to 16 December 1899.
On the 1901 Census, Frederick, an agricultural labourer aged 13, lived in Frogmore, with his parents.
Frederick married Florence Scalphorne 1907 in the St Albans district; they had four children. He resided in Watford.
On the 1911 Census, a general labourer aged 24, he lived in Frogmore, Park Street, Herts, with his wife, daughter Gladys Weedon (born 25 Sep 1910) and step-son Harold Scalphorne (born 1906). Later there would be two more children Stanley Frederick (born 21 Nov 1912) and Arthur Ernest (born 24 Nov 1915).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frederick. He enlisted in St Albans into the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 3/7876 around Sep 1914 (Service Number 7932 was issued on 10 Sep 1914) and the prefix indicates 3rd Special Reserve Battalion.
Frederick went to France on 11 Aug 1915, to join Bedfordshire Regiment in the B.E.F. At some time he was posted to 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, which had been mobilised for Active Service and arrived in France on 25 Jul 1916 at Le Havre and came under orders of 190th Brigade in 63rd (Royal Naval) Division (190 brigade was wholly filled with Army Battalions, 188 & 189 were Naval). Frederick was promoted to Lance Corporal and was probably a Corporal (Unpaid). Following the Battle of Cambrai, the 63rd (RN) Division were in the front line at Welch Ridge and came under attack from German Troops dressed in white outfits on 29 -30 Dec 1917. Many casualties were caused from enemy heavy bombardment and during the infiltration of the British trenches before the situation was restored. During this attack Fredrick was wounded and he died from wounds on 11 Jan 1918.
He enlisted in St Albans, Herts; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 11 August 1915, and died of wounds received in action in France.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Fredrick’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
*1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as St Albans. This may be the case, however St Albans was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Neil Cooper, Gareth Hughes, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
