Pte 42749 Frederick James Mallows

• Age: 33
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 5TH KINGS
• Died on Thursday 29th August 1918
• Commemorated at: Houchin Bc
  Panel Ref: III.G.17

Frederick James Mallows was born in Liverpool on 23rd September 1884, the son of James Mallows and his wife Elizabeth (née Gent).  His father, from Norfolk, and his mother, born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, married in 1870 and had ten children.  The couple briefly lived in Upton St. Leonard, Gloucestershire, where Mary Jane was born, then moved to Derby, where William (who died in infancy), Rose, Samuel (died at age 3), and John were born. In about 1879 they moved to Liverpool, where five more children were born: James (who died at age 2), William, Frederick, Walter, and Albert.

In 1891 his parents are living at 55 Smeaton Street, Kirkdale with daughter Rose and five sons.  His father is a railway guard.  Frederick is 6.

He attended St. Lawrence’s C of E School in Croylands Street, Kirkdale.

By 1901, still in Kirkdale, they have moved to 22 Humber Street and have five sons at home.  His father is 54, a railway guard, his mother is 52, John, 22,  and William, 18, are railway porters, Frederick is 16, a cotton sample porter, as is Walter, 14. Albert, 10, is at school

When he was 25, Frederick married Florence Berry, 24, on 23rd August 1910 in St. Lawrence's Church, Kirkdale, giving his occupation as cotton salesman. No records of children born to the marriage have been found.

The 1911 Census finds the young couple at 1 Hawkesworth Street, Anfield. Frederick is 26, and a cotton salesman, and Florence is 24.  (Frederick's name does not appear on the Liverpool Cotton Association Memorial).  His parents are still living at 22 Humber Street with his youngest brothers Walter and Albert, both of whom work in the cotton trade.  His father is still working as a railway guard.

His mother died in the summer of 1914, aged 65.

Frederick enlisted in Liverpool as Private 42749 joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for just over two years, enlisting in about July 1916. 

Sadly, Florence died in October 1916 at the age of 30, likely when Frederick was still in the U.K. training. 

On the first anniversary of her death Frederick placed an In Memoriam notice in the local paper: 

“In loving memory of Florence Mallows (née Berry) who fell asleep October 17, 1916.  (Though lost to sight, to memory dear.)  - Private F. J. Mallows (somewhere in France).”

At some point Frederick was transferred to the 1/5th Bn. K.L.R. and served in ‘A’ Company as Rifleman 42749.

He was killed in action on 29th August 1918, aged 33, and now rests at Houchin British Cemetery, just south of Bethune, where his gravestone inscription reads,

“DUTY NOBLY DONE”.

The cemetery was opened in March 1918 when the 6th Casualty Clearing Station came to Houchin. From April to September the German advance made Houchin unsafe for hospitals, and the cemetery was used by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division. In September 1918, the 6th Casualty Clearing Station returned to Houchin and was joined by the 15th CCS in October. Houchin British Cemetery contains 700 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and two from the Second World War. There are also 39 German and one Belgian war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His brother Albert, at 22 Humber Street, Kirkdale, provided the information for his headstone.  Albert received Frederick’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £9-10s.  No pension card has been found, indicating that Frederick had no dependants.

His father died in 1922 aged 76.

Sadly, Frederick has not been found any local memorials.

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