Pte
Frederick Burton
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 06/01/1893 |
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Place of birth: Manchester, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 16 Forden Street, Higher Openshaw, Manchester, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Moulder (Brassmoulder) |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 11247 |
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Enlistment place: Manchester, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 08/05/1915 |
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Place of death: Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 12 - OO |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Frederick Burton, born in Manchester, Lancashire, was the eldest son of Frederick William and Margaret Burton. He was working as an apprentice in a steelworks in Manchester when war broke out. He enlisted in the British Expeditionary Force and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, part of the 83rd Brigade of the 28th Division.
Frederick arrived in France on 29 April 1915 where, on 3 May, he joined the 2nd Battalion in Flanders where the Second Battle of Ypres was taking place at the time. The same day, the battalion was ordered to relieve the 5th Battalion King's Own Regiment on the Frezenberg ridge on the road from Ypres to Zonnebeke. The Allies had recently withdrawn to the heights near Frezenberg. The makeshift trenches had been newly constructed and needed to be improved. The battalion set to work, but the work was hampered by German shellfire.
On 8 May 1915, after heavy shelling, the Germans again tried to advance towards Ypres. The forward trenches were taken by a German attack, after which they concentrated on the support trenches. When both flanks of 2nd Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment were threatened, the battalion was ordered to retreat to the Potijze, where it had to hold out. The retreat was very chaotic. Many wounded and dead were left behind. This resulted in heavy losses. On 8 May, the 2nd Battalion lost 15 officers and 890 men. Virtually the entire unit was killed, wounded or captured. The battalion was withdrawn from the line, reformed and fought the rest of the war in Salonika in the Balkan campaign.
During the confused fighting at Frezenberg, Frederick Burton, 22, was killed. His remains were not recovered or were not positively identified. Frederick is therefore commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres.
Frederick arrived in France on 29 April 1915 where, on 3 May, he joined the 2nd Battalion in Flanders where the Second Battle of Ypres was taking place at the time. The same day, the battalion was ordered to relieve the 5th Battalion King's Own Regiment on the Frezenberg ridge on the road from Ypres to Zonnebeke. The Allies had recently withdrawn to the heights near Frezenberg. The makeshift trenches had been newly constructed and needed to be improved. The battalion set to work, but the work was hampered by German shellfire.
On 8 May 1915, after heavy shelling, the Germans again tried to advance towards Ypres. The forward trenches were taken by a German attack, after which they concentrated on the support trenches. When both flanks of 2nd Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment were threatened, the battalion was ordered to retreat to the Potijze, where it had to hold out. The retreat was very chaotic. Many wounded and dead were left behind. This resulted in heavy losses. On 8 May, the 2nd Battalion lost 15 officers and 890 men. Virtually the entire unit was killed, wounded or captured. The battalion was withdrawn from the line, reformed and fought the rest of the war in Salonika in the Balkan campaign.
During the confused fighting at Frezenberg, Frederick Burton, 22, was killed. His remains were not recovered or were not positively identified. Frederick is therefore commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres.
Sources 7
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2nd Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2278/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Hutton John, Kitchener's Men The King's Own Royal Lancasters on the Western Front 1915-1918 (Barnsley, 47 Church Street, Pen&SwordMilitary.Ltd, 2008), viii. Sources used |
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Soldiers Effect Records(National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1605331 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f76d3d47-5266-4270-84cb-bd5502ffa262 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/669119 |