Frederick Thomas Gardiner
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frederick Thomas Gardiner was born on 10th August 1891, he was baptised on 22nd November 1891 at the parish church at Sawley and was the son of William a police constable and Isabel Gardiner née Moir of The Farm Bagthorpe Jacksdale Nottinghamshire.His father William was born in 1860 at Slains, Aberdeen, his mother Isabella Moir was born in 1866 at Chapel of Garloch, Aberdeen, they were married on 28th April 1886 at Bridgend, Aberdeen and went on to have the following children, Alexander Moir b1887, Jennie Ann b1888, Maggie Ann b1889, Fed Thomas b1891 Elsie b1892, Ethel Eliza b1895 Wiliam Albert b1898 and John b1904, all were born at Sawley except Wiliam Albert born at Stonebroom, Derbyshire and John who was born at Codnor Park , Derbyshire. In the 1911 census his parents and siblings are living at 62 Market Place, Codnor Park and are shown as William 50 yrs a police constable, he is living with his wife Isabella 45 yrs and their children, Maggie Ann 21 yrs a school teacher, Elsie 18 yrs a school teacher, Ethel Eliza 16 yrs no occupation listed, William Albert 12 yrs a scholar and John 7 yrs a scholar. In the same 1911 census we find that Frederick Thomas has left the family home, he is living at Hill Road, Worle, Weston Super Mare, he is shown as being 19yrs of age, single and a school teacher, he is living with Anna Bennett 75 yrs a widowed school mistress. Frederick Thomas married his wife Lucy Margaret Amy Gardiner Gregory of Carlton Tower Harpenden Hertfordshire on 16th March 1916.
Captain Frederick Thomas Gardiner was mobilised at the outbreak of war and served with Sherwood Foresters Regiment between August 1914 and September 1915. He was wounded a severe gunshot wound to his right forearm and invalided back to England. He was then Gazetted to the Highland Light Infantry in September 1915. He returned to France in August 1916 and was killed in action on 31st July 1917, by heavy shellfire in the trenches near Ypres on the first day of the third Battle of Ypres, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate memorial, Belgium.
Article published in the Eastwood and Kimberley Advertiser :- 'Captain Gardiner, who was a member of the teaching profession and was an Assistant Teacher at The Fleet Street Boys School Belper, he was educated at Heanor Secondary School, and had just completed a two year course at St. John's College, Battersea, in July, 1914. He mobilised at the outbreak of war with the 5th Notts and Derby Territorial Force, and at once volunteered for active service. He was made sergeant of the cyclists platoon, and after training at Luton, Harpenden, and Bishop Stortford, he was drafted to France in February, 1915. In July, 1915, he received a severe gunshot wound in his right forearm, and was invalided to England. He was on the eve of again departing for France, when he was gazetted to the Highland Light Infantry in September, 1915. After training in England and Scotland, he went to France in August, 1916, and took part in the Battle of the Somme. He was home on leave in February, 1917, and later moved to Ypres, where he met his death.'He is also commemorated on the Belper obelisk war memorial - see photo
