Frederick Bowring Innocent

According to an report (with photograph) which appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post in March 1915, Frederick was a regular soldier and had been trapped behind enemy lines after the fighting around Mons in August 1914. He and a number of other British soldiers evaded capture and were eventually hidden by villagers in Northern France. However, Frederick and his companions were eventually found by German soldiers searching the village and surrendered. There were reprisals against the villagers who had helped them and the soldiers and one of the villagers were executed.

Frederick's body was later recovered and reinterred in Guise Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France (Coll Grave).

Frederick qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

CWGC history of Guise Communal Cemetery 15 Rue St. Medard: ‘In the north-east part of the cemetery are twelve 1914-18 war casualties. Of these, ten were shot by the enemy, at the Château, in February, 1915.’

Eleven of the twelve men died on 25 February 1915 of whom ten are buried in four graves: (1) 6240 Private D Buckley RMF, 7845 Private F Innocent RMF, 7925 L/Cpl J Moffatt RMF. (2) 9852 Private D Horgan RMF and 10084 Private J Nash RMF. (3) 9381 Private G Howard Connaught Rangers and 7010 Private M Wilson CR. (4) P8713 Private T Murphy Connaught Rangers, 9172 Private W Thompson CR and 6594 Private J Walsh CR. The eleventh man, L/Cpl JW Stent 15th The King’s Hussars, is buried in a single grave.

Note: CWGC/UKSDGW give date of death as 25 February 1915 but the Register of Soldiers' Effects gives his date of death as 27 August 1914 (Etreux) - this is an error and could either be the date that he arrived in theatre or when he was separated from his unit during the fighting around Mons. The confusion in contemporary records of the date of Frederick's death probably arose because it would have been some while before it was known what had befallen him after he was reported missing in action in August 1914.

Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 12 March 1915 (abridged): 'Innocent. Killed in action August 27th last (sic), Private F Innocent, Royal Munster Fusiliers, aged 27 years.'

Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 25 March 1915, photograph with caption: 'Private F Innocent Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed in action aged 27, late of 16 Marcus Street, Lenton.'

The following 'In Memoriam' notices were published in 1916 and 1917 and it is probable that the family was unaware of the circumstances of Frederick's death.

Nottingham Evening Post 27 August 1916: 'Innocent. In loving memory of Private F. Innocent, Royal Munster Fusiliers who died for his country August 27th, 1914. Gone, but not forgotten. From his sorrowing father, mother, sisters, and brothers.'

Nottingham Evening Post 27 August 1916: 'Innocent. In loving memory of Private F. Innocent, Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed in action August 27th, 1914. A noble life sacrificed. From his sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and brothers (Jack in Germany).' Jack was probably his brother Lance Corporal John Nicholas Innocent, 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Nottingham Evening Post 27 August 1917: 'Innocent. In loving memory of Private Frederick Innocent, killed in action at Mons, August 27th, 1914. Loved too well to be forgotten. Fiancée Nancy.'

Nottingham Evening Post 27 August 1917: 'Innocent. In loving memory of Pte. Fred Innocent, Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed in action August 27th, 1914. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. Father, mother, sisters, brothers Jack (in Germany) and Percy (with the colours).'

Nottingham Evening Post 27 August 1918: 'Innocent. In fond and loving memory of Pte. Frederick Innocent, killed in action at Mons, August 27th, 1914. Never shall his memory fade. Sweetheart Nancy.'

Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father, Frederick, was his legatee.