PRENTICE, Frederick William


No.96812, Gunner, Frederick William PRENTICE
Aged 33


213th Siege battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 25th September 1917


Born on 14th February 1884 in Needham Market (1st qtr Bosmere 4a:738) son of Robert and Eliza PRENTICE (née BALLS)

1891 census...Aged 7, he was at Church ||Lane, Needham market with his father FRobert PRENTICE [66] farm labourer; his mother Eliza [52] born Willisham; brothers Ernest [19] farm labourer, born Bramford, Robert [17] farm labourer, Lewis [15] farm labourer, Oliver [11], cousin Kate [3]. All except his mother and Ernest were born in Needham Market

1901 census...Aged 17 a gardener, he was at Back Lane, Needham Market with his widowed mother; brothers Robert (carter), Oliver (shepherd) and Kate [13]now recorded as his sister

He married Roseanna Sarah MOUSER [5-2-1884] at St.Mary's Ipswich on 12th May 1909

1911 census...Aged 27, he was at Elder House, Needham Market with his wife Roseanna [27] born Framsden; his widowed mother and niece Lilian PRENTICE [2]

There is no documentation to say when they moved to Risbygate Street, Bury St.Edmunds, but it was by 1915


He attested in Bury St.Edmunds on 8th December 1915, was placed in Reserves and mobilised on 13th June 1916. He gave his date of birth, a married Assurance Area Supervisor of 22 Out Risbygate Street, Bury St.Edmunds.He was 6 feet 1 inch tall, chest 34 to 37 inches, Church of England.
He was posted to the BEF via Southampton-le Havre on 29th December 1916. In 1919 his widow declared on Army Form 5080 that his parents had died, 4 brothers (Robert [46], Ernest [48], Lewis [39], Oliver [37] lived in Newmarket) and Harry [52] was at east Bergholt. His living sisters were Kate Barker [54] in Ipswich and Elizabeth Edwards [50] in Lawford.

His widow's latest address for effects was 301 York Buildings, Bamford Road, Ipswich




In 1919 Frederick and 5 chums were exhumed from here and re-interred at Birr Cross Roads.
They seem to have been the crew of the same gun, the only ones of the battery killed that day.


Frederick Prentice is buried in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium 3:E:28

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


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