One of three brothers to die in the First World War, Fred had enlisted in Dewsbury in early 1915, having moved from his family home of 7, Cromwell Avenue a couple of years before.  He was transferred to the 2^nd Glasgow Pals battalion (16^th Highland Light Infantry) on arrival in France as a reinforcement and was initially wounded in action before dying during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in April 1917.

          Fred’s death had been investigated by his brother, William who was in the area of the Glasgow Pals at the time; Fred’s comrades said that they had been advancing across no-man’s land when Fred calmly said ‘I am hit.’and fell to the ground.  They assumed him to be slightly wounded, and to find him when they returned to their trenches, but he was never seen alive again.  His body was recovered several days later and laid to rest in Chapelle British Cemetery, Aisne.  A sad note to add is that Fred posted his last letter home the morning of the battle, and this arrived a few weeks later, when his family were fully aware of his fate.