Name
Frederick Percy Morley
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/08/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
2692
East Surrey Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 6 B and 6 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Not on the Baldock memorials
Pre War
Frederick Percy Morley was born in 1892 in Baldock, the son of Sarah Bridget Morley, and was baptised in Baldock on 28 June 1894.
On the 1901 Census he was living with his grandfather, Simeon Morley, a china dealer, at Norton Street, Baldock. His mother married Thomas Perry in 1905 in the West Ham registration area.
Frederick enlisted in Hitchin on 11 September 1909 to serve in the Army Reserve for 6 years, under reg. no. 6187 with the 4th Battalion, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, at which time he was regarded as "under height" at 5ft 3 1/2 inches. He gave his employment on enlistment as a picture frame maker. He served 4 years 97 days until he was discharged on 16 December 1913 to join the Royal Engineers/ 6th Signal Company (25644). By the time he joined the regular army he had grown to 5ft 5in and was working as a plumbers mate. He served in Limerick, Ireland from February to May 1914.
On the 1911 Census he was living with his mother and stepfather at 18 Common View, Letchworth, Herts, and was working as a general labourer. At the time of enlistment he was employed by Mr Robinson of Commerce Avenue, Letchworth, as a decorator. His mother later lived at 27 Ridge Avenue, Letchworth.
Wartime Service
He had served in the Army Reserve and only months before the outbreak of war, had been discharged to serve as a regular soldier and joined the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.
Frederick suffered shell shock three months before his death and had received hospital treatment for 'nerve shock' and 'trench fever'. He had recently been promoted to Acting Lance Corporal and had returned to France for only two weeks when, on 31 August 1916, he was killed instantly by a small tear shell which fell in the trench. Fellow soldiers, Private Loft, and Private Sapsford (15087) were killed by the same shell.
His Commanding Officer was Captain Parfitt.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £4 14s 3d. She also received a pension of 12s 1d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild, Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
