Name
Frederick John Whaley
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/08/1916
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
2096
Royal Field Artillery
'A' Bty. 303rd Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI
III. C. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
“Rest in the Lord”
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, St Mary’s Church Memorial Book, Hitchin (not confirmed), Tilehouse St Baptist Church War Memorial, Hitchin, British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Pre War
Frederick was born in 1882 in Hitchin, believed in Tilehouse Street. His parents were William and Eliza Madley (née Foster) who had married in Hitchin in 1878.
In 1891 the family were living at 14 Bedford Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William (40) and Eliza (38), with William working as a hairdresser in Hitchin Market Place in his own business. Their children were: William Foster (10), Frederick John (8), Florence Mabel (6), Lilly Victoria (4) and Eva Eliza (2). They also had a domestic servant, Sarah A Collens (21).
Frederick completed an apprenticeship in 1901 with Mr Lawson Thompson the High Street Hitchin tailor. He was a member of the Blue Cross Temperance Brigade, a keen footballer and cricketer.
In 1901 Frederick and moved away and was lodging at 1 Broadway, South Wimbledon, a boarding house run by Annie Ong. He was working as a outfitter’s assistant, as were the other 3 boarders. His family remained at the same address. Present were both parents, William was still a hairdresser as was their eldest son, also William. Their children were all those listed above except Frederick, plus new siblings Gladys Mary (9) and Percy Hugh (4).
By 1911 the family were living at 26 St Edmonds, Fishpond Road, Hitchin. William still a hairdresser and employer The census recorded they had been married for 32 years with 7 children, all living. Frederick had moved to Southsea, Portsmouth around 1908, he was working at Handleys (and later Debenhams) department store, and boarding at 18 Portland House, Portland Road, Southsea, along with 12 others who were all working for the store, either in cloth, clothing or carpets. There was no head of household listed so the premises was either the store or lodgings associated with it.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin and enlisting in Portsmouth.
Wartime Service
Frederick was allocated the Regimental Number 2096, probably enlisting in 1915. He was posted to ‘A’ Battery of the 303rd Brigade London Division in the Royal Field Artillery and had only been in France for about 10 weeks when he was killed in action in France. The incident occurred at 10.00am on Sunday 6th August 1916 when the Battery was shelled and blew in the top of the dugout where he was sleeping after he had been on night duty.
He was buried in a cemetery some miles behind the gun position in Plot 3, Row C, Grave 23 in the Ecoivres Military Cemetery in France. A private inscription on the stone reads “Rest in the Lord”.
Additional Information
After his death £4 4s 7d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, William on 17 November 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £4 was authorised to be paid to him on 25 September 1919.
Probate was obtained by his father on 3 January 1918, with the value of his effects £125 4s 2d.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
