Name
Frederick John Gregory
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Frederock John Gregory was born in Wilstone Tring to John Gregory, a farm labourer, and Martha (nee Carr).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Emma (born 1871, a straw plaiter), William (born 1874, farm labourer), Thomas (born 1880), Ellen (born 1885,), James (born 1883), Frederick and grandson Arthur (born 1883) were living at Wilstone Little Tring.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ellen (a straw plaiter) and Frederick (a farm labourer) were living at Main Road, Marsworth.
The 1911 Census lists Frederick living at 48 Wingrave Road, Tring, with his mother Martha, aged 62, and his brother James, a general labourer aged 28.
On the 28 Jan 1915.Frederick, then aged 27, married Elizabeth née Barlow (aged 20, of Wigginton) at Tring Parish Church The wedding certificate gives Frederick’s occupation as Private, 4th Bedfordshire Regiment, and that of his father (deceased) as labourer. At the time of his death Frederick and Elizabeth had a 1-year old son Frederick John Thomas (born 1 Jul 1915), their home being at New Mill, Tring. There would be a daughter , Rose (born 11 Sep 1916).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frederick . He enlisted as Private 18621 in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion which suggests prior peacetime service with the Colours and may have been recalled. Frederick went France with his Battalion in Jun 1916 joining 190 Brigade 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, Their first Major engagement was the Battle of Ancre (13-18 Nov 1916) and it was on the first day of that action that Frederick was killed.
This from the Parish Magazine for December 1916: “Just as we go to press comes the news that Frederick John Gregory, Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed on November 14th as he left the trenches.
He joined the Army two years ago and has been at the front for the past six months. He is another of our Church Lads Brigade boys to lay down his life in this war. The writer of this letter which brought news of his death says: ‘He died a hero and never at any time feared the result.’ May God receive him.”
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £2 14s 2d was paid to his Widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
