Pte 34316 Fred Comley

• Age: 28
• From: Nottingham
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 28th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Cherisy Rd East Cem, Heninel
  Panel Ref: 31

Fred was born in Nottingham in 1889 the son of Frederick George Comley and his wife Sarah (nee Hutchinson). He was named after the couples first son named Frederick who died in infancy in 1888. Fred was baptised in Radford on 01st December 1889. He was the brother of Alice. 

On the 1881 census his father was recorded as Frederick G. Comley, married, aged 21 born in Nottingham.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 12 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham. His father is employed as a fishmonger, no place of birth stated for him but his mother was born in Nottingham. 

His father died aged 40 in 1900.

On the 1901 census Fred is aged 12 living at 15 Goulden Street, Manchester with his widowed mother Sarah aged 40, and his sister Alice G. aged 17 and a french polisher. There are 3 boarders living with them.

His mother remarried in Manchester in 1903 to John Hinds.

On the 1911 Census he is recorded as Fred Hinds aged 21, a packer of drapery goods. His mother Sarah Hinds is now 49 she states that she has been married for 28 years. She has had 13 children with only five surviving. Those listed on the Census are; James a 15 year old warehouse assistant, Florence a 19 year old cap maker, Mary aged 16 and a doffer in cotton mill. All the children were born in Nottingham. John Hinds is missing from the Census.  

Fred was living in Liverpool when he enlisted in the City. He was originally serving with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 34316 but he was killed in action on 28th April 1917, aged 28, serving with the 17th Battalion. 

The Battalion diary records the events of the day:

He was reported wounded in the Nottingham Journal 6th December 1916

King's Liverpool Regt - F. Comley, 34316, Nottm.

He was subsequently reported killed in Sheffield Daily Telegraph 1st June 1917

LIVERPOOLS - Comley, 34316, F. (Old Radford);

Fred is buried  at Cherisy Road East Cemetery, Heninel, France where he shares a headstone with Private Edward Heath also of the 17th Battalion who was killed on the same day.

The village of Heninel was captured in a snowstorm on 12 April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Heninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower. Cherisy Road East Cemetery was made by the 30th and 33rd Division Burial Officers in April 1917. The cemetery contains 82 First World War burials, 19 of which are unidentified.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Sarah Hinds

An In Memoriam notice was placed on the second anniversary of his death on April 28th 1919:

COMELY.- In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. Fred Comely, King's Liverpool Regiment., killed in action April 28th, 1917. Ever in our thoughts.-Mother, father, sisters and brother.

Fred is commemorated on the War Memorial at All Souls Church, Radford.

His mother died in Nottingham in the March quarter of 1934 aged 73.

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