Frederick Caunt
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frederick was born in 1897 in Sherwood, the son of Frederick, a house builder, and Annie Elizabeth Caunt nee Phoenix. His father was born in 1877 in Carrington, Nottingham, and his mother was born in 1877 in Sherwood, Nottingham. They were married in 1898; their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District. They had three children: Frederick b1897 Sherwood, Ada Annie b 22 October 1904 Mapperley (O/N/D Nottingham) and Lilian Stella b1907 Carrington (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1901 Frederick senior (23), his wife Annie (23) and their son Frederick (4) were living in Carrington. They were still living in Carrington in 1911, but had moved to 329 Mansfield Road. Frederick and Annie had been married for 12 years and now had three children; Frederick (14), Ada (6) and Stella (3). Frederick's mother signed a receipt for her son's medals in September 1921; she was still living at 329 Mansfield Road. However, the CWGC record gives her address as 17 Hope Drive, The Park, Nottingham. Annie Caunt probably died in 1949 (Jun Nottingham) aged 71. Her daughter Ada probably died in 1977 (Mar Nottingham) age 72.
"X" 5th Trench Mortar Battery Frederick enlisted in Nottingham on 7th August 1914 giving his age as 18 yrs and 247 days (although his age was given as 14 on the 1911 Census). He served in France from 30th April 1915 and was killed in action on 6th February 1917. He is buried in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert (grave ref. I.H.17).
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 6th February 1918: “CAUNT. – Killed February 6th, 1917, Frederick (Ben) Caunt, R.F.A. Oft and near our thoughts do wander to that grave so far away, where they laid our dearly loved one, just a year ago to-day. – From father, mother, sisters, grandma Phoenix, Aunt Lily and Nelly, and Uncle Bill (in France).” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, 28 June 1949, reports of the visit to Nottingham of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh: ‘Items of today’s events … One of the best grandstand views to see the visitors was enjoyed by a dozen old-age pensioners who were invited to the flat of the Misses Ada and Stella Caunt on Aspley-lane. One of the pensioners was pushed in a bathchair from Broxtowe, but ‘the effort was well worth it.’ The oldest of the party was aged 83. The sisters served the old folk tea and cakes before and after the Royal party passed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
