Frederick Charles Chamberlain
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frederick Charles was born in 1895 at Bulwell and was the son of Frederick James Chamberlain, a colliery worker, and his wife Ann (née Glover). His father Frederick was born in 1869 in Norfolk and died on 29th April 1897 in Nottingham aged 28 yrs. His mother Ann Glover was born in 1864 in Bulwell. They were married in 1888, the marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District (J/A/S). They had the following children, all born in Bulwell: Edith Alice b1889 bap. 16 December 1890 (died 1894 A/M/J Basford, aged 5 yrs), Mary Anna b1890, Frederick Charles b1894 (O/N/D Basford) bap. 21 October 1897, and Harley Augustus William b1897 (O/N/D Basford). At the time of the 1891 Census, Frederick (22), a colliery labourer, and Ann (27) were living at 92 Main Street, Bulwell, with their two daughters, Edith (2) and Mary (7 months). Edith died three years later in 1894 and Frederick James six years later on 29 April 1897. Frederick's fourth child, Harley, was born later that same year. In the 1901 census the family are living at 1 Gough Yard, Quarry Road, Bulwell. Ann is shown as being 37 yrs a widow, a lace curtain worker, who is living with her children Mary Ann 10 yrs, Frederick Charles 6 yrs and Harley 3 yrs. His mother Ann married Joseph Wilcox in 1904 (J//F/M Nottingham). In the 1911 Census the family is living at 95 Henrietta Street, Bulwell, and are shown as Joseph Wilcox 36 yrs a boot repairer, who is living with his wife Ann Wilcox 47 yrs and her children, Mary Ann Chamberlain 20 yrs a blouse maker, Frederick Charles 16 yrs a hosiery worker and Harley 13 yrs a scholar. The notice of Frederick's death in the local paper include the name of his fiancée, Hilda. According to Harley's service record (1916) and a report of Frederick's death in 1919, the family home was at 135 Vernon Road, Basford, Nottingham. Frederick's brother, Harley, a hosiery trimmer before the war, also served. He attested on 5 February 1916 at he age of 18 years 4 months, and transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He was not mobilised until 5 February 1917 (348076 Pioneer, Royal Engineers) and served at home until 12 June 1917 then France from 13 June the same year. He then served at home from 6 August 1917 to 14 December 1918 having served 1 year 341 days. He was discharged at Chepstow, 'being surplus to Military Requirements (-) having suffered impairment since entry in the services. Para 392 (xxva) KR'. At the time he attested in 1916, he was living at 135 Vernon Road, Basford, Nottingham, and named his mother, Ann Chamberlain (sic), of the same address as his next of kin. He was discharged to the same address in 1918 naming his mother, Ann Wilcox, as his next of kin. Harley married Hilda A Mitchell in 1926 (J/F/M Nottingham). He died on 27 May 1967 (June Nottingham) aged 69.
Private Frederick Charles Chamberlain served with the 2/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. According to a report of his death in 1919, Frederick had lost his left arm in action. He died at the Military Hospital Charterhouse, London, on 10th January 1919 following an accident. Frederick is buried in Bulwell (St Mary) churchyard (grave ref 'old ground').
Family headstone, Bulwell (St Mary) churchyard, ‘In affectionate remembrance of Frederick James eldest son of George and Hannah and beloved husband of Annie Chamberlain who died April 29th 1897 aged 28 years. Also Beatrice Sarah, the beloved wife of Willam Lord and sister of the above, died Jan 15th 1899 in the 21st year of her age. Also Pte Fredk. Chamberlain [remainder below ground]'. A new tablet has been placed in front of the family grave with the inscription, '26692 Private FC Chamberlain, Notts & Derbys Regiment, 10th January 1919'. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 14 January 1919: ‘Chamberlain. Died suddenly, January 10th, at Military Hospital, Fred, the dearly loved son of Annie Chamberlain, aged 24. We cannot Lord Thy purpose see. From his sorrowing mother, sister, brother, brother-in-law and fiancée Hilda.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 16 January 1919: ‘Basford Soldier’s Fatal Fall. Death in the well of a lift. At Clerkenwell, yesterday, Mr Walter Schroder opened an inquiry into the death of Frederick Charles Chamberlain, 24, a private in the Notts. and Derbyshire Regiment, whose family reside at 135, Vernon-road, Old Basford, Nottingham, and who died in the Military Hospital, Charterhouse-square, EC. Deceased, who was formerly a hosiery trimmer, joined the army in February, 1916. He served in Ireland and France, and had lost his left arm in action. He was home on Christmas leave, and left on the 1st inst. for London to have an artificial limb fitted on. Deceased with four others entered the lift, Chamberlain starting it. Staff-Sergeant Davy, RAMC, subsequently found the deceased lying in the well of the lift, in an unconscious state. He never recovered sensibility, and expired in about ten minutes. The engineer to the hospital stated that he examined the lift after the occurrence, and found no defects in it. Probably the deceased overbalanced and fell when he was sending the left away from him. The height from the third floor was 40 feet. The inquiry was adjourned to enable the authorities to trace two men who were in the lift which deceased, and who so far had not been found.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 10 January 1920: ‘Chamberlain. In loving memory of our dear brother, Pte Fred Chamberlain, Robin Hoods, who died January 10th, 1919. Gone from our home, but not our hearts. Not forgotten. Meg and Dick.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
