Name
Frederick William Purton
23 March 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/04/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
147225
Royal Engineers
5th Bn. Special Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY
Plot C. Row 3. Grave 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Little Gaddesden Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Memorial & Roll of Honour, Little Gaddesden, Not on the Berkhamsted memorials
Pre War
Frederick William Purton was born in Little Gaddesden, Herts on 23 March 1895, the son of Heber and Elizabeth Purton and one of six children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at No. 5 Hudnall, Little Gaddesden, where his father was working as Coachman Domestic.
He was educated at Little Gaddesden School from April 1898 and left, aged 14, in 1909.
The family remained living at No. 5 Hudnall, Little Gaddesden on the 1911 Census and Frederick was working as Dairy Lad at the Farm.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Hertford, serving first in 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, with which he arrived in France on 31st July 1915. He was later transferred to the 5th (Mortar) Battalion Special Brigade, Royal Engineers, in which he was serving as a Pioneer at the time of his death.
The war diary described how two tents had been set up at the ammunition depot at Audruicq, France for the removal of charges from 4-inch mortar bombs and substituting them for ophorite (a different form of explosive). It was believed the ingredients spontaneously ignited and the fire spread to the other tent which lead to an explosion of about 200 rounds of mortar bombs. It was initially thought up to six men were killed and about 40 wounded. In fact a total of 12 men were killed and buried in the Calais Southern Cemetery.
He died on 25 April 1916, aged 21, from accidental injuries (burns and shock) following the explosion. He was recorded as "dead on admission" at No. 35 Lahore British General Hospital, Calais and is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £7 and pay owing of £9 7s 2d. Although pension records exist there is no indication of the amount paid. Some records are incorrectly transcribed as Burton.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org., littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk
