Name
Frederick Dear
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/6823
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Frederick was born around 1895 in Hitchin and christened on 28 April 1895. and his parents were James and Sarah Maria Dear (née Marshall), who appears to be generally known as Maria. They married in 1865.
In 1901 the family less James, were living at 48 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Maria (33) listed as a soldier’s wife. Their children were: Maggie (Margaret - 12), Ethel (10), Frederick (6), Bernard (3) and Gladys (2). Also present was Maria’s brother, Charles Marshall (17)..
By 1911 the family were living at 3 Barkers Cottages, Hitchin and now both parents were present: James (47) and Maria (42). James was working as a railway labourer and plate layer. The census recorded they had been married for 19 years with 7 children of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above were present with Fredrick now 16 and working as a riveter In engineering works. There was a new daughter, Elsie (7).
Although James had been a serving soldier, he does not seem to have served in the First World War, possibly because of his age or his work being a protected occupation.
Officially Frederick was recorded as born in Hitchin and living in Hitchin, when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
According to the National Roll of the Great War, Frederick was a serving soldier when war was declared and was almost immediately drafted to France, taking part in the retreat from Mons and other engagements. However this ‘Roll gives his Battalion as the 4th not the 2nd, but this is believed to be an error. It gives his family address as Oakdene, Kershaw Hill, Hitchin.
Frederick was in the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 4/6823. They were in South Africa in August 1914 but were recalled at the outbreak of war and landed in Southampton on 19 September 1914. He served with them in France from the 11th November 1914, seeing action in several parts of the Western Front.
On the 16th June 1915 the Battalion were involved in a major attack at Givenchy. It was here that Frederick was wounded and is believed to have died from his wounds, as his body was never recovered and his name is recorded on the Le Touret Memorial, France. His name is also recorded on the Hitchin War Memorial, where it is shown as James Frederick Dear
Frederick was reported missing in the Red Cross records and they list enquiries made about him on 10th, 17th and 24th July 1915 and 2nd, 9th 30th August 1915
Additional Information
The Ministry of Pensions recorded his father at 53 High Dane, Walsworth, near Hitchin as his dependant.
After his death £9 6s 3d was authorised to go to his father on 12 June 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him in August 1919.
His brother Bernard Dear served and survived and hi biography is on this site.
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
