Pte 21729 Frederick Stanley Wells

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 25th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Longuenesse Cem St Omer
  Panel Ref: IV.E.2

Frederick Stanley Wells was born 19th May 1893 in Tuebrook, Liverpool and baptised 20th June 1893 at St Margaret C. of E. Church, Anfield, Liverpool. He was the son of Charles Edward and Annie Wells (nee Bell) of 68 Knocklaid Road, Clubmoor, Liverpool who had married at St Mary's Church, Walton, Liverpool in 1892.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 53, Belmont Road, Everton, Liverpool with Annie’s mother. The head of the household is Ann Bell a widow aged 71, born 1830in Workington, Cumberland. She has two daughters, Elizabeth aged 44, born 1857 in Workington and Mary aged 29, born 1872 in Liverpool and both have no occupation listed. Frederick’s father, Charles Edward is aged 35 and he is employed as an insurance agent. His wife Annie is aged 38 and has no occupation listed. They have two children at the time of the Census, Frederick Stanley aged 7 and William aged 3.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 27 Wolverton Street, Anfield, Liverpool. His father, Charles Edward is shown as aged 47, born in Liverpool in 1864 and his occupation is shown as an insurance agent. His wife Annie is aged 49, born 1862 in Accrington. They have been married for nineteen years and have had four children of which one had died. Those present on the Census are Frederick Stanley aged 17, born 1894 an apprentice at a printers and Charles Norman aged 8, born 1903. Both children were born in Liverpool. 

Frederick Stanley enlisted in Liverpool on the 09^th November, 1914, joining the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21729. He gave his age as 21 years and 5 months and gave his occupation as a printer. He was five feet four inches tall, weighed 114lbs, fresh complexion, grey coloured eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.


He embarked for France with his Battalion on the 7^th November, 1915 and remained in France till 9^th August, 1916.

He returned to the UK from 10^th August, 1916 to 28^th May, 1917 and returned to France on the 29^th May, 1917. During this time he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from 18^th September, 1916 up to 16^th October, 1916 and on to 11^th Battalion till 30^th May, 1917, before being transferred to the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment on the 16^th June, 1917.

He was wounded in the back and shoulder on 22nd September and died of his wounds on the 25^th September, 1917 aged 24 at 10 Stationary Hospital, St Omer. 

He now rests at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:  

“DUTY NOBLY DONE FOR GOD, COUNTRY & HOME”

St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916. Lord Roberts died there in November 1914. The town was a considerable hospital centre with the 4th, 10th, 7th Canadian, 9th Canadian and New Zealand Stationary Hospitals, the 7th, 58th (Scottish) and 59th (Northern) General Hospitals, and the 17th, 18th and 1st and 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations all stationed there at some time during the war. St. Omer suffered air raids in November 1917 and May 1918, with serious loss of life.

The cemetery takes its names from the triangular cemetery of the St. Omer garrison, properly called the Souvenir Cemetery (Cimetiere du Souvenir Francais) which is located next to the War Cemetery.

The Commonwealth section of the cemetery contains 2,874 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (6 unidentified), with special memorials commemorating 23 men of the Chinese Labour Corps whose graves could not be exactly located. Second World War burials number 403, (93 unidentified). Within the Commonwealth section there are also 34 non-war burials and 239 war graves of other nationalities.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

He was reported wounded in Liverpool Daily Post 23rd Sept 1916 - Wells, 21729, F.

Subsequently, Frederick's death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 25th September 1917

WELLS - September 25, aged 24 years, of wounds received in action, Private F. S. Wells (Fred), K.L.R., dearly loved eldest son of Mr and Mrs C. E. Wells, 68 Knocklaid Road, Clubmoor. 

Soldiers effects to his father Charles which included a letter, photographs, one wallet, photograph case, one wrist watch, strapand protector, one 9ct gold ring, 9ct small Gold lock, pair of scissors, safety razor in case and blades, one cap badge and one pocket knife.

Pension to his mother Annie.

Frederick is also commemorated on the following memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 32 Left

Holy Trinity C. of E. Church, Anfield

Holy Trinity C. of E. Boy's Brigade, (23rd Liverpool Company Boys Brigade) Anfield.

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