Name
Frederick John Fuller
30 Jan 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10621
Bedfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE
III. H. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints' Church Memorial(s), Hockerill,
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial,
United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford
Pre War
Frederick John was born in Hockerill, Bishops Stortford, Herts on 30 Jan 1897 to Henry Fuller, a bricklayer, and Hannah (nee Palfreeman). He was baptised on 11 Apr 1897 at Holy Trinity, Newtown, Bishops Stortford.
On the 1901 the family of parents, Frederick, Doris Susan (born 1899) and Lewis Henry (born 1901) were living at 4 Hockerill Terrace, London Road, Bishops Stortford.
On the 1911 the family of parents, Frederick, a golf caddy, Doris Susan, Lewis Henry, Eric Thomas (born 1903), Winifred May (born 1905), Cyril John (born 1907) and Edith Ethel (born 1909) were living at 55 South Mill Road, Bishops Stortford.
Wartime Service
Frederick was aged 17 and living in Hertford when he enlisted with a group of friends, making him one of the boy soldiers.
He went to France on 30 Jul 1915 with his Battalion as part of 112 Brigade, 37 Division. 112 Brigade including 6th Battalion were attached 34 Division for the period 7 Jul-21 Aug 1916.
During this period the 6th Beds attacked on 15 Jul 1916 positions near Pozieres (Battle of Bazentin Ridge but were held up by hostile Machine Gun fire and had to dig in. Other rank casualties were 32 Killed (25 Missing) and 174 Wounded.
Frederick was first recorded as missing on his pension, and then as killed during the Battle of Pozieres (2nd key phase of the Battle of the Somme). The Regiment’s War Diary for the day of his death reports that 3 officers and 32 other ranks were killed.
A letter from his company officer informed his parents that their son was missing after an attack but that he had not officially been returned as killed. He expressed his sympathy and added that their son had always worked well and would be a great loss. He hoped that Private Fuller was perhaps only wounded. In a letter a Stortfordian from the same regiment wrote stating that he saw Private Fuller lying dead. A few days later another Stortford family received a letter from their son who had met a soldier Who went over with young Fuller. He thought a bullet caught him straight through the head as he went down like a stone. Mr. & Mrs. Fuller had to wait 10 months before their son was officially reported killed.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 and arrears of £2 3s 6d was paid to his father.
His soldier's effects record states death presumed on or since 15 Jul 1916, and his Medal Index Card states 'died of wounds'.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Neil Cooper, Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer, Jenny Clough
