Lance Corporal 15739 Frederick Beaumont

Frederick Beaumont was born in the September quarter of 1894 at 49 Dutton Street, Liverpool to Huddersfield born joiner William Beaumont and his Liverpool born wife Mary Ellen (nee Kelly). They married October 1887 in Liverpool, William was 21 years of age. They had 13 children of which 3 died pre 1911. Frederick was their fourth child of the 13 born. He became the eldest living son when his elder brother died, aged 2, in March 1894.

The April 1901 Census shows Fred aged 6 at 7 Larch Grove, Everton with his parents and siblings.

 

The April 1911 Census shows 16 year old Fred now a clerk for a fruit merchant living at a new address of 300 Anfield Road, Anfield, with his parents and seven siblings and newly married elder sister, Amy and her husband Thomas Ryan making 12 in total in a 7 roomed house.

 

On 02nd September 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool Fred joins the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15739. He gave his age as 20 years and 60 days.  He was described as being 6 foot tall, weighed 138 lbs with a 35 and a half inch chest. He had brown eyes and brown hair, his religion is stated as Church of England.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

 

In the October quarter of 1915, aged 49, his father William died.Frederick was away training at Larkhill Salisbury when it happened.

 

He was wounded whilst serving with the 17th Battalion at Guillemont on 30/07/1916. He received a Gun Shot Wound to his thigh and was treated at a Casualty Clearing Station before being hospitalised. He was shipped back to the UK on board Hospital ship "SS Dieppe" on 02/08/1916 but on the 19/12/1916 he returns to the Front to fight.

 

He was transferred to the 13th K.L.R. and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 10th February 1917.

 

While in action with the 13th King's at Arras on 13th A[pril 1917 he was killed in action.

 

The circumstances of his death are reported as follows:

 

 

Fred, aged 22, was one of the 40 other ranks referred to as killed. 

 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as  he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. 

 

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

 

Just 4 months after his death his younger brother Private 39148 Alfred Arnold Beaumont arrived on 19th August 1917 serving with the 1/4th Leicestershire Regt, he had enlisted on 11th December 1915, he survived the war and was finally discharged 19th August 1919.

 

Fred's arrears of Army pay of £8:5s:2d was sent to his widowed mother Mary Ellen at 300 Anfield Road, Anfield on 20th February 1918. A War Gratuity of £12 was also sent on 19 November 1919. She also claimed his Dependents Pension until her death in 1947. 

 

Fred is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 13 Left

 

We currently have no further information on Frederick Beaumont, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.