Name
Frederick Mead
23/03/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/11/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10198
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT
IX. G. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Kings Langley Village Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Kings Langley
Pre War
Frederick Mead was born on 23 March 1887, in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Alfred Tomlin Mead and Jane Mead (nee Daniels) and one of 11 children, although 5 died in infancy. He was baptised on 6 January 1888, in the Parish Church, Boxmoor, Herts, with his sister Clara and brother Arthur.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 9 Two Waters, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, where his father was working as a Timber Carrier. By 1901 they had moved to 2 Story Street, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead when 14 year old Frederick was working as a Butcher's Porter.
Frederick married Annie Tibbett on 10 September 1910 in Hemel Hempstead and on the 1911 Census they were living at Railway Terrace, Kings Langley, Herts and Frederick was working as a Millhand at the Paper Mill. They later had two children, Harold John on 19 May 1911 and Doris Annie on 27 August 1915.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted at Hemel Hempstead, Herts, on 4 December 1915, aged 25, and was posted to the Army Reserve on 5 December 1915, He was mobilised for service on 30 May 1916 and posted to the 3rd Battalion, “The Buffs” (East Kent Regiment) with the service number G/10198.
He arrived in France on 25 October 1916 and was transferred to the 1st Battalion. On 8th November he was transferred to the 7th Battalion and just ten days later, Frederick was killed in action on 18 November 1916.
He is buried in the CWGC Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France. Grave IX. G. 3.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs, F. Mead, 17, Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM". His widow Annie received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £1 12s 5d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 11d a week for herself and the two children from 18 June 1917. She gave her address on pension records as 17 Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead, which was later changed to 68 Town Lane, Hemel Hempstead. N.B. there are two candidates for the F Mead named on the Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial. One is Frank Mead of Great Gaddesden and the other Frederick Mead of Boxmoor. On balance Frederick is the more likely as his widow was living at an address in Hemel Hempstead town on CWGC and pension records.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk.,
