No.16584, Private, Frederick METSON
Aged 26
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Frederick Eskel Metson was born in Birdbrook (Risbridge Q1-1890 4A:691) son of Robert and Susan METSON (née LOFTS ?). They can at times be found as MITSON.
1891 census...Aged 1, he was in Birdbrook with his father Robert METSON [45] farm labourer born Finchingfield; his mother Susan [45] born Finchingfield; brothers Charles A [20] and Alfred [15] both farm labourers, born Finchingfield; sister Rosa A [13]; brothers Benjamin [10] and Thomas E [3], all three born in Birdbrook. In addition other siblings were Harriet [1868], Emma [1869] and Jemima [1874] all born in Finchingfield. His father died in 1897. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Bailey Hill Farm Cottage, Birdbrook with his widowed mother (now recorded as born in Ridgewell; brothers Benjamin and Robert (farm labourers and Thomas (errand boy). 1911 census...Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was still in Birdbrook with his mother ( birth recorded in Ridgewell)and brothers Robert and Thomas (both farm labourers) His brother Thomas was killed serving in Gallipoli in the Essex Regiment in 1915. see here |
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He enlisted in Warley. Another case where "Soldiers Died" give cause of death as "died of wounds" and the Medal Index Card says "Killed in Action". This is
usually a case of dying the same day, perhaps not even reaching a Field Ambulance.
The battalion on 10th June, held a line from TURCO FARM to just in front of the Estaminet across the Moortelweg. (28.C.15.d). On the 12th the war diary relates:- A quiet day, 2nd Lt Chawner took out a patrol to NO MAN'S FARM and 2/Lt Willmott took a patrol to the right of the estaminet and bombed the Germans but it cannot be said with what result Casualties 2 Killed 10 wounded. 13th Quite a quiet day. A few rounds were fired at our Reserve trench by a field gun Casualties 3 killed 4 wounded. The problem here is that if Frederick was killed in action, how he came to be buried in Bailleul, in France. The greater probability is being wounded at least a day earlier and dying in a Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul. There is no reference to a graves concentration. the area mentioned above, just north east of Ypres His memorial stall in Birdbrook church photo: Roy Beardsworth He is also commemorated in the Congregational Church in Stambourne click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
