Name
Frederick Sydney Reynolds
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/08/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
50232
King's Royal Rifle Corps
Posted to 6th Bn. London Regiment (City of London Rifles)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT
V. O. 8A.
France
Headstone Inscription
FAITHFUL TILL THE END
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth
Pre War
Frederick was the eldest son of John Samuel and Alice Ann Reynolds, recorded later as living in Station Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
He was born in Sawbridgeworth in 1900, lived at 28 Bull (Cambridge) Road and then moved with his parents to 1 New Street.
He was a resident of Sawbridgeworth, Herts. when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Frederick was formerly TR/13/50047, 53rd (YS) KRRC. 13th Battalion, but was posted to 6th Bn. London Regiment (City of London Rifles).
He died in a Canadian general Hospital in France on August 15th from wounds received in earlier action. On the 10th August the Battalion was withdraw to reorganise after significant losses a few days earlier. It is probable that Frederick was wounded in one of the following events.
After going into the trenches at Lahoussoye on the night of the 5/6th the Battalion was stood to as the Germans attacked other trenches in the area 2 other ranks were killed and two wounded. On the 7th at 10:20pm they moved to assembly points for an attack. Second Lieutenant Abel was killed and 3 ORs killed and 3 more wounded. They attacked the enemy on the 8th at 4:20am and then again on the 9th at 4:20pm. During this period 2 officers were killed, 9 wounded and in the other ranks 32 killed, 243 wounded, 7 wounded on duty and 24 were missing.
This action was part of the Battle of Amiens, in which the British used combined arms tactics was an overwhelming success, and which General Ludendorff described it as ‘The Black Day of the German Army’. From that time on, the German Army was inevitably going to be defeated.
Frederick was only 18 years and 10 months old.
Additional Information
His headstone “Faithful till the end” as requested by his mother.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Douglas Coe
