Name
Frederick George Cracknell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/05/1917
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
206430
Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)
24th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KARACHI 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL
Pakistan
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Essendon War Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Essendon, Not on the Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Born in 1875 in West End, Essendon, Herts. The son of William Oliver and Elizabeth Martha Cracknell of Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
The 1881 census shows Frederick aged 5 years living with his parents, brother and two sisters, at West End, Essendon, Herts. and the 1891 census shows Frederick aged 16 years living with his parents, and brother Charles at West End, Essendon, Herts. His occupation is given as a Farm Labourer.
Frederick enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Militia, on the 5th March 1894 aged 18 years and 7 months with the service number 2798. He was discharged on the payment of £1-00 on the 13th January 1896.
The 1901 census shows Frederick aged 25 years living with his parents and brother Charles at Roes Cottage, West End, Essendon, Herts. with Frederick’s occupation is given as a Labourer on Farm. Frederick Married Elizabeth Martha Mitchell, on the 6th September 1902 in Bishops Hatfield, Herts. She was 22 years old. They had 6 children. 1911 census shows Frederick aged 35 years Married living with his wife and three Children, Olive, William and Frederick, at West End, Essendon, Herts. His occupation is given as a Horseman on Farm.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted in Hatfield, Herts. Formerly into the Hertfordshire Regiment with the service number 23890. He was transferred to the Rifle Brigade initially with the service number 297 and then 206430.
He served in India from 12th February 1916 to 13th May 1917, when he was Killed in Action. He has no known grave and is Commemorated on the Karachi 1914- 1918 War Memorial, in Pakistan. (Note Karachi was part of India until partition in 1947).
Additional Information
His personal inscription on the headstone reads: Son of William Oliver and Emma Cracknell: Husband of Elizabeth Martha Cracknell.
Frederick is also commemorated on his mother's headstone in Essendon (St Mary) Churchyard, his part of the inscription reads:
ALSO FREREICK GEORGE CRACKNELL
DIED IN INDIA 13TH MAY 1917 AGED 42
REUNITED
DIED IN INDIA 13TH MAY 1917 AGED 42
REUNITED
Acknowledgments
Sue and Colin Rees, Stuart Osborne
