Name
Frederick Cain
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/07/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19447
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOUCHY-LES-AYETTE BRITISH CEMETERY
III. B. 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock, Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
He was the son of the late Samuel and Hannah Cain of Hitchin. Frederick had a sister who lived at 4, Kent Place, Union Road, Hitchin. Born in and a resident of Hitchin,
Frederick was born in 1890 in Hitchin to Samuel and Hannah Cain (née Davis) and attended Hitchin Boys British School in Hitchin.
In 1891 the family were living at 60 Old Park Road, Hitchin. The parents Samuel (33) and Hannah (33) were both working as tailors. Their children were Charles S (9), Percy (7), Florence H (5), Winefred V (3) and Frederick at 10 months.
Samuel died on December 1894 and Hannah died in June 1900, living their eldest son as the head of the family, who also worked as a tailor.
So, in 1901 the family (all siblings) were living at 4 Kent Place, Union Road, Hitchin. They were recorded as Charles, Percy, Florence, Minnie (Winifred) and Frederick. They were still at the same address in 1911. All were still present, except Percy, with Frederick now 20, and working as a grocer’s assistant for W.B. Moss the provisions merchants at their premises in Baldock. He was also an enthusiastic footballer.
Officially Frederick was recorded as born and living in Hitchin, when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in February 1915 in Bedford, trained at Ampthill Park and was allocated the Regimental Number 19447. He went to France in December 1915 to the 1st Battalion of the Bedfords which was part of the 15th Brigade in the 5th Division. His death was caused when a bomb accidentally exploded and he was killed instantly. Four others were seriously hurt and five slightly injured in the incident.
The 1st Battalion was a few miles south of Arras at the time of his death and was about to move up to the Somme area.
He was originally buried at Wailly Military Cemetery, but as part of the concentration of graves after the war his body was exhumed and re-buried at Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery. He was identified by the cross erected on his grave.
Additional Information
His brother Charle S Cain, ordered his headstone inscription while living at 17 Victoria Road, Hitchin, Herts., in reads “NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE”.
After his death £8 0s 10d was authorised on 25 September 1916, it was divided between his brothers Charles and sisters Florence and Winifred and later the last part went brother Percy on 14 December 1916. Then later a war gratuity of £6 was authorised to be paid to Charles on 16 February 1916.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild
