Name
Frederick Bromley Wild
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/10/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
50006
Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DADIZEELE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot IV, Row B, Grave 13.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill,
1st SW Herts Scout Troop (in St Mary's Church, Watford)*1,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey,
St Paul's Church Memorial, Bushey,
Not on the Rickmansworth memorials
Pre War
Born in Rickmansworth on 17 April 1899 and baptised at Mill End on 9 June 1899, Frederick Bromley Wild was the son of Walter and Louisa Jane (nee Bromley) Wild. His parents were married on 4 October 1883 in the parish church of Christchurch in Greenwich, Kent. Walter was living in Rickmansworth and Louisa was living at The Laurels in Westcombe Park, London. Walter and his father, Thomas, were both recorded as Brewers and Louisa’s father, William George Sutton Bromley was a Gentleman.
At the 1891 census, Walter and Louisa were living in a ‘private’ road off Nightingale Road, Rickmansworth. They were aged 35 and 34 years respectively and had three children named Walter (Jnr.), Charles and Herbert. They were 6 years, 5 years and nine months old respectively. Walter was still working as a brewer and Walter (Jnr.) and Charles were at school. The birthplaces were given as Watford for Walter, Greenwich for Louisa and Rickmansworth for the three children. Also present was a general domestic servant named Clara Parker.
At the 1901 census, Frederick was 1 year old and living with his parents and five siblings at Tannery House in Uxbridge Road, Rickmansworth. His father now had a business as a mineral water manufacturer, Charles was a clerk with the company and Walter (Jnr.) was a brewer’s clerk. In addition to Walter (Jnr.), Charles and Herbert, Frederick’s siblings included Edward and Louisa (Jnr.) who were 8 and 4 years old respectively. Rickmansworth was the birthplace given for all of the children.
Frederick attended Victoria Junior School in Watford, and then Beechen Grove Board School in Watford, from 8 January 1907 to 28 July 1911.
By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Bushey Hall Road in Bushey. The record states that Walter and Louisa had had eight children, one of whom had died in childhood. Walter (Jnr.) and Charles were no longer present. Frederick’s father was working as a newsagent and his two brothers, Herbert William and Edward Whittington were Railway Clerks. Louisa Maud and Frederick were at school, as was his younger brother, 9-year-old Alfred John. Alfred had also been born in Rickmansworth.
In 1914 at the age of 15 he was employed as a clerk by the London and North Western Railway at Crewe Station.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted in Watford and was initially attached to 2 R.A.F. Cadet Wing on 12 March 1918 before serving at Private 556787 with the 16th (County of London) Battalion of the London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles). He was later transferred to the Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) and served as Private 50006 with the 1st Battalion on the western front. He was killed in action on 2 October 1918.
The War Diaries describe the advance towards Dadizeele in the previous few days. ‘Heavy machine gun fire from the enemy. Stokes guns useless owing to cartridges getting wet. Weather – rain heavy and continuous on 30th Sept, adding to hardship of the men. No rations had been received so they had to attack without breakfast after spending all night in heavy rain and muddy trenches without cover. In spite of this, they fought well.’
On 1 October 1918 they were relieved by the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles with casualties of 1 officer and 15 other ranks incurred during the relief.
Frederick was buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery (Plot IV, Row B, Grave 13) in France and is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial on Clay Hill, at St James’ Parish Church and at St Paul’s Church in Bushey. He was entitled to the British War and Victory medals. There is a Death announcement for Frederick in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 19 October 1918.
The Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects named his father, Walter, as his sole legate and showed payments of £13 7s. 8d. on 20 Jan 1919 and a War Gratuity of £5 10s. on 1 Dec 1919.
Frederick Wild, Philip Posner, John Heather and William were pioneers of Scouting in Hertfordshire and were members of the 1st South West Herts (Countess of Clarendon's Own), which was Hertfordshire's first registered Scout Troop inaugurated in 1908. The mothers of John and Frederick helped the Scoutmaster with the work of the Scout Troop. The Church Hall of St Mary's Church was used as their meeting place in 1914 and a Memorial plaque honouring the four who died is situated on the north wall. Philip and John were pupils at Watford Grammar School for Boys and Philip's parents bequeathed 21 guineas to the school to provide a science prize in their son's memory. Eighty other past members of the Troop also served in World War 1. The 1st Watford South (Countess of Clarendon's Own) incorporating 82nd Watford South Scout Group, which retains its lifelong association with the Clarendon family in its title and patronage, now has its Headquarters at the Scout Hut in Durban Road East, West Watford.
Additional Information
Frederick is also commemorated on his family’s grave in Rickmansworth (Chorley Road) Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO FREDERICK BROMLEY WILD FIFTH SON OF WALTER AND LOUISA
AND GRANDSON OF THE ABOVE
WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE ON THE IN THE GREAT WAR 1ST OCTOBER 1918. AGED 19.
BURIED WHERE HE FELL
*1 Philip Posner, John Heather, William Newell and Frederick Wild, all commemorated on this roll of honour, were pioneers of Scouting in Hertfordshire. Philip and John were pupils at Watford Grammar School for Boys. Philip's parents bequeathed 21 guineas to the school to provide a science prize in their son's memory. The mothers of John and Frederick helped the Scoutmaster with the work of the Scout Troop. William's tragic death mirrored that of Jack Cornwell, the nationally commemorated Scout who died of injuries sustained at the Battle of Jutland. These four boys were members of the The 1st South West Herts (Countess of Clarendon's Own), Hertfordshire's first registered Scout Troop, inaugurated in 1908. 80 other previous members served in World War 1. Their meeting place in 1914 was in the Church Hall of St Mary's Church, where the Memorial plaque honouring the four who died is situated on the north wall. The 1st Watford South (Countess of Clarendon's Own) incorporating 82nd Watford South Scout Group, which retains its lifelong association with the Clarendon family in its title and patronage, now has its Headquarters at the Scout Hut in Durban Road East, West Watford.
The inscription on his gravestone reads: ‘He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters’.
His soldier’s effects of £13 7s 8d and a war gratuity of £5 10s were left to his father, Walter.
Additional information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton, Andrew Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Malcolm Lennox, Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Our Watford History
