Military History

Frederick is listed as being killed in action on 3 Jul 1916 near Roclincourt, and it is most likely that he was killed overnight on 2nd/3rd July. The War Diary for the period 2nd/3rd July is transcribed below.

Roclincourt 2 Sunday July: "The whole description is taken from the memorandum on the subject of the crater sent to HQ 41st Inf Bde by Lt Col Green and it continues as follows - I consider that great credit is due to Capt Rixon who was in the front line trenchwews at the time of the explosion for his prompt action in immediately organising a counter attack under very difficult circumstances and to 2nd Lt Cooke and the bombers for seizing and holding the far lip of the crater under a heavy shell and machine gun fire. At 4.0am the enemy shelled the new crater with a large trench mortar.

Casualties were as follows: 2nd Lieut R.M. Rogers reported missing. 2nd Lt Rogers was in the crater before 3.00am and was then seen in Bogey Trench going towards C Coy HQ. He was seen after that, search parties were immediately arranged but were unable to discovery anything. At night the ground outside the trenches round the crater was thoroughly searched but nothing could be found.

2nd Lieut R.L. Hardy bullet wound in right shoulder - serious. 2nd Lieut M.T. Sampson wounded by trench mortar in head and back - not serious. 2nd Lieut C.E. Scott slightly wounded in left back, remains at duty. Eight O.R. killed and 25 O.R. wounded. 8 O.R. Missing. Sergeant Stone and Sergeant Richardson of C Compnay were both killed.

The mine did not go up where the Tunnelling Company had said it would, consequently one of our own posts was blown up with it, it was also a far larger crater than had been expected - 160 feet across, probably the largest mine ever blown up on the British front.

The 8th Bn Rifle Brigade and 7th Bn K.R. Rifles assisted by sending digging parties with sandbags, picks and shovels, wire etc. Two Vickers Machine Guns under the Bde Machine Gun Company were sent immediately to the flanks of the crater. Two shifts of 60 men each come up at night from 7th Bn KRR but are unable to do much work owing to continuous trench mortaring of the enemy. We had three killed and 8 wounded during the night of 2nd/3rd, all working near the crater.

Roclincourt 3 Monday July: Quiet fine day. 7 Bn K.R.R.C relieves the 8th Bn K.R.R.C which returns to Brigade Reserve.