DEWELL, Frederick George


No.TF/205169, Private, Frederick George DEWELL
Aged 25


16th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment
Killed in Action on Thursday, 31st May 1917


Born in 1892 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:767) son of Walter and Jane Elizabeth Dewell (née GOOCH)

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 68 Eastgate Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Walter DEWELL [48] platelayer; his mother Jennie [46]; brothers Willie [24](apparently an invalid), Herbert [18] compositor, Albert [16] errand boy, Ernest [14] printer's apprentice and Robert [12]; sister Winifred [6]. All were born in Bury St.Edmunds.

1911 census...Aged 19, he was still at 68 Eastgate with hs parents; brothers Willie, Herbert (compositor), Albert (farm labourer), Ernest (lithographic printer) and Robert (farm labourer); siser Winifred (dressmaker). His mother had borne 9 children but lost 2, one would be John [b.1880 d.1902] killed in Boer War and ?

His brother John, in the Suffolk Regiment, died of pneumonia in South Africa in 1902, see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds 10th March 1916, #4080 4th 8th Bn Middlesex Regt, later #205169. A gardener from 68 Eastgate Street, Bury St,Edmunds, aged 24 years 4 months, single, 5 feet 8.5 inches tall, chest 32.5 to 34.5 inches, weighing 122 lbs. Next of kin, father Walter. Army Form 5080 shows that by 1919 Willie had died, Herbert was at 5 Spring Lane; Renest and Albert were at 78 Eastgate Street, the rest still at 68 Eastgate Street.

. Posted to BEF via Folkestone-Boulogne on 20th March 1917 and posted to 16th Middlesex on 9th April 1917. He joined his battalion in BEF on 23rd April 1917 and was posted missing on 31st May 1917.

30th/31st May 1917:- 2.5 Coys in HILL TRENCH, 1.5 Coys in DALE TRENCH. Battalion - 11 Officers and 230 other strong, in conjuncton with 1st Lancashire Fusiliers in centre and 8th East Lancs on right, attacked HOOK TRENCH under intense artillery barrage. The left failed to get up, but 2.5 Coys gained the objective, some of the centre battalion also reached the objective. The battalion on the right failed to reach the objective. All were driven back by counter-attacks with the exception, as far as can be ascertained, of 2 officers and some 30 to 40 men of the battalion. These detachments held out until about mid-day on 31st when they were compelled to give in through lack of bombs and ammunition and no hope left of any immediate relief.
Casualties 19th to 31st - Officers: killed 1, wounded 3; missing 2; missing believed prisoners 2
Other ranks killed 31, wounded 139; missing 70, missing believed prisoners 6.






photo - CWGC
Frederick Dewell is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens, Bay 7

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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