Fred was born on 25 August 1899, he was the eldest of 5 children.  His father Benjamin was a labourer for the Urban District Council and his mother Ann, nee Rogers, was a housewife.  The family lived at 103 King Street, Walton.

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He enlisted in 52nd Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment on 21 August 1917 aged 17 and 361 days, before joining up he worked as a grocer.  He embarked to France in early April 1918.  Shortly after arriving in France he transferred to 10th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters.  He died from poisonous gas on 19th August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens, he was 18.  He is buried in St Sever Cemetary Extension in Rouen, France.

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On February 11th 1920 a plaque was unveiled in Walton Parish Church, St Mary’s of all those who had died in the Great War, of which Frederick was one. It was built by Messrs G.E. Wright & Sons, and unveiled by General Samuel Eyre Massy-Lloyd, of the Suffolk Regiment.

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