Name
Frederick Hinstridge
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/03/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
66019
Royal Garrison Artillery
20th Trench Mortar Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 9
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Frederick was born in 1893 in Hitchin and christened on 2 March 1894 at Holy Savior Church, Hitchin. His parents were William and Rebecca Hinstridge.
In 1901 the family were living at 12 Kent Place, Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William (36) and Rebecca (37), with William working as a painter. Their children were: Thomas Albert (12), Frederick (7) and Florence Ethel (2).
He attended Hitchin British Boys' School.
By 1911 the family were living at Seven Stars, Charlton Nr Hitchin, Herts. Present were both parents, William now recorded as a house painter. The census recorded they had been married for 23 years with 7 children, of whom 2 had died. All the children listed above were present, with William now recorded as Albert and Frederick, now 17 and working as a tea blender for a grocer. New siblings were William (9) and Elsie (7).
married (née)
Before the war Frederick worked for Messrs. W B Moss and Sons, Ltd.
Officially he was recorded as born in St. Mary's, Herts (Hitchin) and enlisted in Hitchin, Herts.
His home was in Union Road, Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He was given the Regimental Number 66019 and served in the 20th Trench Mortar Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was in the army for two years and at some time lost an eye and was transferred to the Southern Hospital at Southsea. He was later killed in action in Belgium.
Early in 1916 training began on the French 240mm heavy mortar which became an artillery weapon adopted by the British and one Battery of four mortars formed part of each Division 's Artillery.
He probably lost his life in the artillery duels to the east of the area of the hamlet of St. Eloi near the Ypres - Comines canal after the Actions of the Bluff from the 2nd March 1916. The local paper reported that he died from shellfire.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 9 of the Menin Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £4 5s 0d was authorised to go to Lily Lewis his legator*1, on 10 June 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised on 1 November 1919, split 15s to Lily Wood and £2 5s 0d to his father paid to her, on.
*1 we have yet to establish a relationship to Lily Lewis or Lily Wood, who may well be the same person. She seems likely to be the Lily Lewis from Letchworth who is believed to have married Christopher E Wood in 1918. One wonders if they were perhaps engaged.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
