Name
Frederick John Radley
22 Feb 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
9257
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
VII. A. 22.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Hockerill, All Saints Church Memorial Board, Hockerill
Pre War
Frederick John Radley was born on 22 Feb 1886 in Bishop's Stortford, Herts to Eliza (nee Gould0, and Thomas Radley (a maltster’ labourer) and he was baptised on 30 May 1886 at St Michael’s, Bishop's Stortford.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Frederick J, Lucy E (born 1888) and George Thomas (born 1890) were living at Wharf Road, Bishop's Stortford, where his father was a Maltster’s Labourer. He was their eldest child.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Frederick, Lucy, George, Frank (born 1892, Clara (born 1894) and Percy W (born 1896) were living at Hadham Road, Bishops Stortford.
Frederick enlisted in the Militia as Private 4373 in 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and after initial training joined the Regular Army as Private L/9257 in Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment on 9 Oct 1903. His engagement was for “3 years with Colours, and 9 years in the Reserve”.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Frederick, Lucy, George, Frank (born 1892, Clara (born 1894) and Percy W (born 1896) were living at Hadham Road, Bishops Stortford. the Middlesex Regiment on 9 Oct 1903.
He married Rose (Roseanne) O’Brien in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin on 30 Jan 1910 and they had a son Percy Laurence who was born on 7 Nov 1910 in Donnybrook.
His service records show he was in Dublin, Ireland in 1904 and Londonderry, Ireland in 1905 and 1906 Frederick was transferred to Army Reserve on 8 Oct 1906.
On the 1911 Census he was living in Ireland with his wife and son Percy at Pembroke Place, Donnybrook, South Dublin. He gave his occupation as Asylum Attendant and his religion as Roman Catholic.
Sadly, Rose died on 12 May 1915. Frederick’s parents took on the care of their grandson Percy.
Wartime Service
Frederick was mobilised from Reserve on 6 Aug 1914 at the outbreak of war and after a period of training he went to France to join 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regt 19 Sep 1914, as part of 8 Brigade, 3rd Division taking part in the Battle of Le Bassee. He was wounded in chest during the Attack at Wytschaete on 14 Dec 1914 and was evacuated to UK for treatment at Netley, Southampton for treatment until 12 Feb 1915. Frederick remained in the UK (possibly because of his wife’s illness) until 6 Jul 1915 after having been posted to 6th (Reserve) Battalion on 17 May 1915 and then a further posting to 11th (Service) Battalion and promotion to Lance Corporal on 2 Jun 1915 which he joined in the field in early Jul 1915 near Ploegstreet, Flanders as part of 12 (Eastern) Division, newly arrived on the front The Division took part in the Battle of Loos (25 Sep-8 Oct 1915). . Fredrick was appointed acting Sergeant on 15 Oct 1915 (confirmed on 30 Dec 1915).
Frederick received another injury on 19 January 1916 whilst training with mortars and received a gunshot wound to his right hand. He was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital with shell shock on 26 Feb 1916, and later transferred to Convalescent Depot no. 6 at Etaples on 6 Mar 1916. He recovered and returned, through Infantry Base Depot, Etaples to 11th Battalion on 23 Jul 1916 in the Somme Sector. However he was wounded in action and died of his wounds on 28 Jul 1916.
Additional Information
His mother Eliza received a War Gratuity of £14 and arrears of £8 19s 8d. On 21 Aug 1916 his father wrote a letter to the Army informing them that Frederick was a widower and that he and his mother had charge of their grandson, Percy Lawrence and enclosed the birth certificate. Percy was awarded a pension of 5 shillings a week with effect from 19 February 1917. Brother to George Radley, Hertfordshire Regiment, who died 14 Nov 1916.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
