Name
Frederick Mead
1871
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/10/1914
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3861
16th (The Queen's) Lancers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Berkhamsted Memorials, Bourne War Memorial Cross, Surrey, St Thomas on the Bourne Church Memorial, Surrey
Pre War
Frederick Mead was born in Berkhamsted, Herts in 1871, the son of David and Elizabeth Mead and baptised on 13 April 1873 in Great Berkhamsted.
On the 1881 Census the family were living in Highfield Road, Berkhamsted where his father was working as a labourer in chemical works. By 1891 they had moved to Ravens Lane, Berkhamsted and his father had been promoted to foreman in the chemical works.
Frederick served in the South African Campaign (Boer War) from 1899 to 1902 with the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers and received the South Africa Medal with clasps for Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wiltebergen and Relief of Kimberley,
He married Ethel May Thick in 1906 in Alton, Hampshire and on the 1911 Census they were living at 3 Terrace Gardens, Farnham, Surrey with children Gladys (4) and Mary (2 ½) and Frederick was working as a Groom. At the time of his youngest daughter's baptism in 1908 the family were living at Rose Cottage, Frensham Road, Frensham, Surrey.
Wartime Service
Having served in the Boer War, it is likely Frederick would have been recalled as a reservist. He served in France from 6 October 1914 with the same regimental number and with the same regiment, 16th (The Queen's) Lancers.
He was killed in action on 28 October 1914, aged 42. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £2 1s 8d. She also received a pension of £1 1s a week later rising to £1 3s 8d a week.
N.B. There is a memorial to the men of the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers in Canterbury Cathedral with a record book listing all the names of those killed in the Great War,
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
