Name
Frederick Arthur Maylin
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1918
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26587
King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MIKRA BRITISH CEMETERY, KALAMARIA
340
Greece
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Frederick was born in 1882 in Hitchin and christened on 5 Jul 1882 in St. Marys Church, Hitchin . His parents were Frederick Arthur and Sarah Maylin.
In 1891 the family were living at 87 Queen’s Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Frederick (36) and Sarah (38), with Frederick (senior) working as a hawker. Their children were: Martha (13), James (12), Frederick Arthur (junior) (7) and Gerald at 7 months.
In 1901 the family had moved to Penn’s Yard, St Andrew’s Street, Hitchin. Of the parents only Sarah was present and was now widowed: Only the three boys were living there: James was 21 and a bricklayer’s labourer, Frederick was 19 and a general labourer, and Gerald who was 10.
He had married Emma Cherry on 30 July 1904. Their first child, Frederick Arthur was born 28 December 1905, then Arthur, born 22 August 1907) and Violet, born 6 June 1909).
In 1911 the family were living at 3 St Andrews Place, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Frederick (28) and Emma (26) and the three children named above. Also present was Frederick’s brother, Gerald (20). The census recorded they had been married for 6 years with 3 children, all living. Frederick was working as a yardsman.
Another child, Beatrice Elizabeth was born on 6 July 1913.
Frederick enlisted on 8 December 1915 into the Royal Lancaster Regiment as Private 26587, when he was 33 years and 3 months old and working as a wood machinist. He was mobilized on 5 June 1916 . At that time he was now 33 years and 8 months still working as a wood machinist and living with his wife at 3 Providence Row, Hitchin. He was described as 5’ 1 ¼” tall and only 98 Lbs so was of slight build even for the time.
Before the war he had been employed by Mr F. Newton for 16 years.
Officially Frederick was recorded as born and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
After he was mobilized he was first posted to the 8th Northamptonshire Regiment on the 6 June 1916 and to the 3rd Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment on the 1 September 1916 and then transferred to the 3rd Bn. King's Own Regiment on the 20 October 1916
He embarked from Devonport on 4 November 1916, arrived at Salonika on the 16th and joined his new unit, the 9th Bn. King's Own in the Field on the 25th. The Battalion was in the 65th Brigade being part of the 22nd Division.
Whilst serving in Salonika, on the 22 September 1918, he suffered a severe gun shot wound on the and was admitted to No. 28 General Hospital in Greece and died a few days later. Around that date the Division was about 40 miles north of Salonika near Lake Doiran fighting with the Greeks against the Bulgars. The Brigade was already much weakened by influenza but they tried to take ‘P’ Ridge by themselves. Unfortunately, the enemy machine guns were too much for them and, after sustaining heavy casualties, they had to fall back.
He was buried in Grave 340 in the Mikra British Cemetery at Kalamaria in Greece.
Additional Information
In his Will, written on 15 October 1916 while he was in the 3rd Northants., Frederick left all his property to his widow.
On the 9 July 1919 Frederick’s personal items were sent to his widow, they included: photographs, letters, called coma leather waist belt, cigarette case, cigarette lighter, pocket knife, leather xx? with brace, aluminium ring, leather purse, piece of shell, letters. Receipt was acknowledged on the 10 July.
After his death £19 2s10d was authorised to go to his widow, Emma Maylin, on 2 July 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £10 was authorised to be paid to her on 1 December 1919.
His pension cards record his widow, as his dependant, living at Providence Row, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant of £9 on 17 October 1918 and a pension of 33s 9d a week from 14 April 1919. Their children were listed Frederick Arthur (b 28/12/1905), Arthur (b 22/8/1907), Violet (b 6/6/1909) and Beatrice Elizabeth (b 6/7/1913).
At some point Emma notified the Army of her change of address to St Andrews Place, Hitchin.
PHOTOGRAPH: The photograph of two men shows Pioneer H Shepherd and Private Frederick Maylin. The newspaper mentions them in that order suggesting the H Shepherd in on the left. We know that F Maylin was of slight build also leads us to believe that is the case and Frederick is the man on the right.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
