Military History

Frederick is listed as being killed in action on 10th May 1917. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 9th May to 7pm on 11th May 1917 are transcribed below along with an obituary in the Stratford Herald.

Fampoux Railway Cutting - 9.5.1917: Fine day. Enemy artillery very active during morning. Aircraft active on both sides all day, 2 planes brought down, one of ours and one enemy.

Enemy artillery put down an intense barrage on Crump Trench from 4pm to 4.15pm. Enemy bombarded N & S banks of River Scarpe during afternoon. Our heavies bombarded enemy’s lines during the afternoon. Fairly quiet evening.

T. Captain G Everard seriously wounded. Died at 1^st Canadian CCS on 9.5.17.

Temp Lt. F.G. Martin joined battalion on posting and remained at XVII Corps Depot at Savy.

Casualties: 1 Officer died of wounds and 1 O.R. wounded

Fampoux Railway Cutting - 10.5.1917: Our troops evacuated front line to enable our heavies to bombard Chemical Works, Chateau and Cemetery which is done all day. B Coy occupy Crete Trench and A, C & D Coys occupy Crump Trench.

At dusk A, B & C Coys occupy original positions in front line. A,B & C Coys relieved at night by Household Battalion and go back into Crete Trench. Very dark night.

2nd Lt. T. McKenzie joined battalion on posting and remained at XVII Corps Depot at Savy.

Casualties: 2 O.R’s killed and 5 O.R’s wounded

Fampoux Railway Cutting - 11.5.1917: Fine day. Enemy artillery bombarded our support trenches from 5.30am to 6am. Our aeroplanes very active all day, patrolling our lines.

Stratford Herald - Friday 18th May 1917
PRIVATE F. RUSSELL

Mr. and Mrs. W. Russell late of Mansell Street, Stratford upon Avon, and now living in Birmingham have received this week an intimation of the death of their youngest son. The sad intelligence is conveyed in a letter from the Chaplain of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders who writes “I am very sorry to inform you that your
son was severely wounded on Thursday 10th May and afterwards died of his injuries. He was brought from the trenches to a collecting post for wounded and died just when he reached there. There was no time to speak to him and to get any message. He was beyond that when he arrived. He was buried this morning by a Church of England Chaplain.

This is very sudden news for you but I hope you will bear up bravely like a brave mother of a brave son. It is sad to lose our lads but it is good to remember that in laying down their lives for their country they have gained the greatest honour that men can win.” Private Russell was formerly in the bottling department at the brewery and was 21 years of age. He joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in December 1914 and had just completed two years service in France. He was home on leave last Christmas.