Name
Frederick Geary
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/05/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9890
Border Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 120 to 126 or 222 and 223.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, St Francis of Assisi Memorial, Hammerfiield, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor, Not on the Berkhamsted Town Memorial
Pre War
Frederick Geary was born in Northchurch, Nr Berkhamsted, Herts in 1893, the son of the William Geary and Annie (nee Hopkins) and baptised there on 4 June 1893.
The family remained in Northchurch on the 1901 Census at High Street, his father was working as a Brickmaker and Frederick was 7 years old. By 1911 Frederick had enlisted and was Private 9890 at the Border Regiment Depot at Carlisle. His parents remained living at Northchurch, and were living at Bank Cottages on the 1911 Census.
Wartime Service
Frederick may have been serving in 3rd (Reserve) Battalion and transferred to 1st Battalion following its return from Burma arriving at Avonmouth, Bristol on 10 January 1915.
The Battalion sailed from Avonmouth for Gallipoli on 17 March 1915 landing at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915.
Frederick was killed in action on 14 May 1915. He has no known grave and so is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £5 and his mother received his pay owing of £7 0s 8d. Pension records exist and suggest that his mother received a pension in respect of Frederick and his brother Walter although no amount is given.
His brother Walter also of 1st Battalion Border Regiment died on 28/29 Jun 1915 from his wounds sustained at Cape Helles and is also named on the Helles Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database
hemelatwar.org
