Frederick Caunt
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Frederick was the son of George and Emma Caunt nee Hinds. His father George was born in Radcliffe-on-Trent in about 1883/1884, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Caunt. In 1871 the family was living on Kingston Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. George and Emma Hinds were married in 1871 (J/F/M Radford) and according to the 1911 Census they had had 13 children, 11 of whom were still living. Birth registrations of 13 children (Caunt/Hind) have been traced: Jane Elizabeth (Elizabeth) b. 1871 (A/M/J Radford) bap. 28 August 1877 Sneinton St Stephen, Samuel James birth registered 1873 (J/F/M Radford), Maria birth registered 1875 (J/F/M Radford) bap. 28 August 1877 St Stephen, George b. 13 May 1877 (A/M/J Radford) bap. 28 August 1877 St Stephen, James birth registered 1879 (J/F/M Radford), John Robert (Robert) birth registered 1880 (J/F/M Radford), William b. 1882 (A/M/J Nottingham), Arthur birth registered 1884 (J/F/M Nottingham), Henry b. 1886 (A/M/J Nottingham), Ellen b. 26 May 1887 (J/A/S Nottingham), Theresa b. 24 September 1889 (O/N/D Nottingham), Frederick birth registered 1893 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Albert b. 1895 (A/M/J Nottingham). The death of one child has been traced: Maria (1905) but it is likely that the second child to die before 1911 was James (b. 1879) who has not yet been traced on a census return. In 1877 when three of their children were baptised at Sneintion St Stephen, George and Emma were living at Eyre Place, Sneinton. By 1881 George Caunt (37) a painter, and his wife Emma (27) were living at 8 Clarence Terrace, Sneinton, with their children Elizabeth (10), Samuel, Maria (6), George (3) and Robert (1). The family has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census, but by 1901 had moved to 13 Keswick Street, Sneinton. George (58) was now working as a journeyman painter. In the home on the night of the census were his wife Emma, and seven of their children, William (18) a bricklayer, Arthur (17) a joiner, Henry (15) a bottle washer (liquor merchant), Nellie [Ellen] (13) an errand girl, Theresa (11), Frederick (8) and Albert (5). In 1911 George (68) and Emma (58), now working as a lace hand, were living at 53 Walker Street, Sneinton. Only one of their surviving children, the youngest Albert (16), a dray lad, was in the home on the night of the census. However, three grandchildren were living with them including Ida Radford Caunt (b. 1910 A/M/J Nottingham) who was probably the child of their daughter Ellen (Nellie) - there is a record of the marriage of a Nellie Caunt to Horace Radford in 1913 (A/M/J Radford). The other two children were Mary Alice Spridgen/Spridgeon birth registered 1899 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 16 April 1899 Sneinton St Alban, and Albert Spridgen/Spridgeon b. 1904 (O/N/D Nottingham), the orphaned children of their daughter Maria. There may have been a third child, William Edward Spridgen b. 1901 (O/N/D Nottingham). Maria had married Joseph Spridgen on 19 November 1898 at Sneinton St Alban, and at the time their daughter Mary was baptised in 1899 were living at 2 May's Yard. Maria had died aged 29 in 1905 (O/N/D Nottingham). George snr. died on 22 February 1919; he was buried with military honours in Nottingham General Cemetery. He was then living at 12 Hampton Terrace, Walker Street, Sneinton. Two of his brothers were also killed in action: Henry on 20 October 1914 and Arthur on 6 January 1915. (See separate records on this Roll of Honour.) Jane Elizabeth has not yet been traced after the 1881 Census. Samuel James married Clara Poole in 1898 (J/A/S Nottingham). He died on 15 February 1916; they were then living at 3 Minerva Place, Keswick Street, Sneinton. George served in the South African Wars and continued to serve to 1910. He married Gertrude May Wood at Nottingham St George on 1 February 1908. In 1939 George, a lorry driver, and Gertrude (b. 1 May 1887) were living at 43 Merchant Street with ther son George (b. 31 December 1917) a hosiery knitter. George died in 1950 (A/M/J Nottingham). John Robert also served in South Africa. He died on 1 April 1923; he was then living at 4 Dennett's Terrace, Beaumont Street, Sneinton. William was discharged from the army on 29 May 1917 aged 41 (Silver Badge). He probably married in 1911 (J/F/M Nottingham) and died aged 53 in 1935 (O/N/D Nottingham). Ellen (Nellie) Caunt married Horace Radford in 1913 (A/M/J Radford). Horace served in the Royal Field Artillery. In 1939 they wre living at 17 Dowson Street, Nottingham; Horace (b. 9 December 1889) was a sports groundsman. Theresa Caunt married Albert Edgar Gimson in 1909 (O/N/D Nottingham). Albert served in 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles). In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register was compiled Theresa and Albert (b. 24 September 1888) and their children Gladys (b. 13 January 1921) tobacco leaf stripper, and Albert (b. 28 January 1924) capstan lathe operator and Bernard (b. 4 February 1828) were living at 44 Vernon Avenue in 1939 at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled. Albert was a stationary steam engine driver (hosiery). Theresa died in 1959 (O/N/D Nottingham). Albert served with the Sherwood Foresters and was still serving in 1921. He may have died in 1962 (O/N/D Nottingham).
Frederick enlisted first in the Royal Field and Horse Artillery on 19 October 1909, No 59868. He was 18 years 10 months of age, 5 feet 7 inches and a lace dyer. He was posted to 119th Battery at Deep Cut Barracks. On 21 January 1910 he was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters and conditions altered to 7 years and 5 years with Army Reserve, Authority O.C., 27th Brigade 17/1/1910; he was now No 11275. Between 29 September 1911 and 2 September 1914 he was with the 1st Battalion in India after being posted from 1st battalion. Between the 14/10/12 and 9/11/12 he is in hospital with an ingrowing toe nail. The 1st Battalion landed in England on 4 September 1914 to refit and reorganise prior to moving to the Western Front. The battalion arrived in France on 4 November 1914. Frederick was wounded by a gun shot in the back on 19 November 1914 and moved down the casualty line to hospital and then on 4 December 1914 to England on the ship Carisbrook Castle. By 18 March 1915 he was fit again. However by this time his brothers Harry and Arthur had been killed and William had been discharged because of wounds. Frederick arrived back with the 1st battalion on 20 March 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 7 July 1915 and lost it on 27 September 1915, regaining it (unpaid) on 17 November 1915. He was given leave from 28 January to 4 February 1916. On the 7 July 1916 he became a paid Lance Corporal. On 15 October 1916 he was given a severe reprimand for being absent from parade. Frederick was killed in action on 27 October 1916 and was buried at Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette (grave reference IV.A.2) On 27 October 1916 the battalion were on the Somme and a raid was attempted at 6pm but No Man's Land was impassable because of the mud. At 8pm the CO received orders to make an attack but he protested, pointing out that the area was impassable, the men were exhausted as they had been on short rations for the 6 days in the trenches. The attack was cancelled. At about 9pm a party of enemy could be seen approaching the trench and when 40 yards away, were challenged. They lay down and some fired but after rifle and Lewis guns fire, they could be heard calling for help. Parties went out and brought in two wounded and reported two dead. Later two more enemy came over and gave themselves up. At some point Frederick was killed.
Article published 16th April 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post reads :- “SEVEN SOLDIER SONS. “SNEINTON FAMILY’S FINE RECORD. “Mr. George Caunt, of 11, Hampton-terrace, Walker-street, Sneinton, has seven sons, a grandson, and two sons-in-law who have either served or are at present serving in the army. “The father enlisted in 1859 and completed eleven years’ service. “Six of the sons belonged to the first or second Battalion Sherwood Foresters, George, [1] who served for 16 years, and Robert [2] 18 years’ service, both bring wounded in South Africa. William, [3] who returned from India with the 1st Sherwood Foresters, was wounded in France, whilst Harry [4] was killed at the front in October last. Frederick [5] was wounded, and has returned to France, and Arthur [6] taken a prisoner of war and died in Germany. Albert, [7] the remaining son, has joined the 9th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters. “The grandson (George Boultby) [8] in the A.S.C., whilst the sons-in-law (Horace Radford and Albert Gimson) [9] have enlisted in the R.F.A. and the Robin Hood Reserve Battalion respectively.” [10] [1] Pte. George Caunt served with 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters in South Africa. He was reported missing on 4th November 1900 – rejoined – and was wounded at Vlakfontein on 29th May 1901. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with bars 'Johannesburg', 'Diamond Hill', 'Cape Colony' and 'Orange Free State' and the King's South Africa Medal with bars 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1902'. He was discharged on 6th January 1910. [2] No record of a Robert Caunt as having been wounded in South Africa. His service record show him to have joined 4th Battalion Derbyshire Regiment in 1897 but it provides no details of service in South Africa. [3] Pte. William Caunt, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 4th November 1914. His medal index card shows that he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps. According to his entry on the Silver War Badge roll, he was discharged from the Sherwood Foresters on 29th May 1917 “on termination of engagement” aged 41 years and six months. [4] L/Cpl. Harry Caunt, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 20th October 1914. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. [5] L/Cpl. Frederick Caunt, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 4th November 1914. He was killed in action on 27th October 1916 and is buried in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette. [6] Pte. Arthur Caunt, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 8th September 1914. He was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914 and died of wounds in German hands on 6th January 1915. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. [7] Pte. Albert Caunt landed in France on 27th August 1915 as a member of the 11th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He later served with the 1st Battalion. [8] Pte. George Boultby landed in France with the Army Service Corps on 14th July 1915. He transferred to the Labour Corps. [9] Cpl. Albert Gimson, 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles). Note: Item 9 - Horace Radford husband of Ellen (Nellie) Caunt and Albert Edgar Grimson husband of Theresa Caunt All above notices and newspaper articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 “CAUNT. – On 22nd inst., at 12 Hampton-terrace, Walker-street, George, the beloved husband of Emma Caunt, passed away. Peace after pain. Service at St. Alban's 2 o'clock; General Cemetery, Derby-road, 2.30, Saturday. [4th March 1919] Military funeral.” [1] Two of his sons died in the war. A third son, Samuel James Caunt, died, aged 43, “after long and painful illness” [2] on 15th February 1916. He, too, is buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. [1] 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 27th February 1919. [2] 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 17th February 1916. Above courtesy of Jim Grundy’s facebook page Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, 17 February 1916: ‘Caunt. On 15th inst., at 3, Minerva-place, Keswick-street, Samuel James, the dearly beloved husband of Clara Caunt, and eldest son of George and Emma Caunt, aged 43 years, after long and painful illness. Peace after pain. Funeral General Cemetery (top end), Saturday, 2.30’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 6 April 1923: ‘Caunt. On the 1st inst., at 4 Dennett’s-terrace, Beaumont-street, Sneinton, John Robert Caunt. Funeral General Cemetery, top end, Saturday 3.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 13 November 1935: Mrs Caunt and Family, thank all kind friends, neighbours, Old Comrades Association, Porters General Hospital, for floral tributes and sympathy in their sad bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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