Name
Frederick John Whaley
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
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI
III. C. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
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
He was the son of William and Eliza Whaley of Hitchin. His home was in Fishponds Road, Hitchin.
He was born in Tilehouse Street, Hitchin and 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. He went to Southsea where he worked for Messrs Handley for six years. He enlisted in Portsmouth in June 1915.
Wartime Service
Frederick was allocated the Regimental Number 2096. He was posted to ‘A’ Battery of the 303rd Brigade London Division in the Royal Field Artillery. 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”.