Name
Fred March
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/04/1917
47
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
G/81401
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
29th (Works) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot D, Row 2, Grave 728.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth ROSS (formerly MARCH, nee MOGER) and the late Arthur MARCH; husband of Emily Augusta (nee HILL) MARCH of Watford.
His parents married 19 October 1861 at St Peter’s, Stourton, Wilts. Arthur died 1872 in the Bath, Somerset, district aged 32. Elizabeth remarried in the Wincanton, Somerset, district to John ROSS, and died 1920 in the Wincanton district aged 79.
Fred was born 1869 in Browham/Brewham, Somerset, and married 18 February 1901 at Holy Trinity, Brompton, London; they had four children. He was buried 10 April, aged 48. Emily never remarried, she died 14 July 1962 in Bushey, Herts, aged 86, and was buried 18 July, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1871 Census, aged 1 he lived in North Brewham, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1881 Census, a shoemaker’s apprentice aged 12, he lived in Wincanton, with his mother, step-father and four siblings. On the 1891 Census, he is proving elusive (serving in Cyprus). On the 1901 Census, a Sergeant in the Army (Lancashire Fusiliers) aged 32, he lived in Evercreech, with his mother, step-father and wife. On the 1901 Census, an Army Pensioner aged 41, he lived in Watford, with his wife and four children.
He originally enlisted for Short Service 14 April 1887 in Bristol: a labourer aged 18, unmarried, 5’5″ tall, C of E, in the 1st Gloucester Regiment; his next-of-kin was his mother of Evercreech, Somerset. He was appointed Lance-Corporal 11 June 1887, and promoted to Corporal 24 May 1889. He extended his service to 12 years with the Colours 24 April 1890, was promoted to Lance-Sergeant 18 June 1891 and promoted Sergeant 14 March 1892. He served at Home from 13 April 1887 to 31 October 1893; in Malta 1 November 1893 to 7 October 1895; in Cyprus 8 October 1895 to 11 November 1896; in Egypt 12 November 1896 to 5 February 1897; in India 6 February to 14 April 1897; and Home again 15 April to 3 June 1901. During this time he re-engaged to complete 21 years with the Colours 5 October 1895, and transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers 24 March 1899. He then served in South Africa 4 June 1901 to 24 July 1902, and at Home 25 June 1902 until his discharge 12 April 1908 in Dublin: a labourer aged 39, 5’7″ tall, of St John’s Hill, London S.W. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with four clasps, and served his full 21 years.
Wartime Service
He subsequently re-enlisted 12 October 1914 in Watford: a caretaker aged 45, 5’7″ tall, C of E, and immediately promoted Sergeant in the Lancashire Fusiliers, no. 27359; his next-of-kin was his wife of Watford.
He transferred to the Middlesex Regiment 12 February 1917, and was at Horton County of London War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, from 22 February 1917 where he died of pulmonary tuberculosis. He served at Home for the duration, so did not qualify for any medals.
Additional Information
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
His headstone inscription reads: "INSCRIPTION REST IN PEACE".
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
