Military History

Frederic is listed as being killed in action on 17th July 1917. However it is thought that Frederic was actually killed on the 19th July. The 9th Battalion war diary entries for the period 15th to 19th July are transcribed below to cover both dates

Right Sub-Sector, Onraet Wood – 15 Jul 1917: C Coy relieved the Coy of the 9^th Welch. The Bn now held the line with three Coys in front and one in reserve. The enemies artillery was very active, shelling the front areas and then communications.

The delivery of rations was delayed but never for long. A carrying party of 100 men, supplied to the Bn by the 9^th Worcester’s for carrying stores etc. This party suffered 18 casualties during the night [15/16^th].

Right Sub-Sector, Onraet Wood – 16 Jul 1917: Coys worked on improving the trench line, efforts being directed towards linking up the advanced posts and duck boarding the occupied positions.

1 O.R. reinforcement arrived.

Right Sub-Sector, Onraet Wood – 17 Jul 1917: C Coy was detailed to attack and consolidate Junction Buildings at O.17. The orders and arrangements are shown in App VII & VIIIa. The operation was well carried out and very successful. Casualties during the attack were 2 or 3 only, in spite of the enemy barrage, which was put down on near of our front trench.

Four unwounded and one wounded prisoners of the 31^st R.I.R [Reserve Infantry Regiment] were taken.

Right Subsector - 18th July: The C Coy garrison of the newly taken position was relieved about 3am by two platoons of D Coy which carried on the consolidation. Hostile artillery fire was fairly active on the whole area during the day

At 9.30pm the enemy opened a heavy barrage on our front line. This was observed from BN HQ and a protective barrage was put on Junction Buildings by the covering artillery. Almost at the same time the garrison of Junction sent up the SOS Rocket which was responded to by the artillery. The enemy attacked at 9.40pm driving our garrison from the post. Three of our men were reported missing. A report is appended.

Our C Coy was relieved by D Coy 9th Welch which arrived in the trenches shortly after the fighting for the post had commenced. Our counter attack having failed to drive the Germans from Junction. D Coy 9th Welch was ordered to attack at 3.30am [19th] the attack was successful

Right Subsector - 19th July: About 6.30am a report was brought down from the front line by 2/Lt G.W. Dymond to the effect that the Germans had again driven our Garrison from Junction Buildings. The position remained uncertain until 8.15am when Lt. J.R. Mallalieu who had been sent up, returned with definite information that the enemy had occupied the position. Nothing had been seen of the attack by any of our troops in the front line.

It was found later by questioning the survivors of the garrison and German prisoners that two Companies of the enemy had attacked and driven out the garrison of whom 2 officers and 13 other ranks were killed or missing out of two platoons forming the garrison. A Coy of the 7th K.O.R.L. was placed at the disposal of OC 9th Cheshire and was ordered to send up a platoon and two Lewis Guns to reinforce the weakened company of the 9th Welch.

The Battalion with on Coy 9th Welch and one Platoon of 7th K.O.R.L. was relieved in the subsector by three Coys of 7th K.O.R.L. and one Coy of 7th East Lancs.

Kemmel Shelters - 20th July: Relief was quite normal although slow on account of the darkness and shelling, relief was completed by 3.35am. The Battalion arrived in camp about 5.30am to 6am. Baths were alloted to 2 Coys in the afternoon. 11 OR reported arrival.