Fred Hirst
In Hamsteels St. John Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:-
In Loving memory of
Allen
the beloved husband of Mary Hirst
who died on Feb. 25th 1917
aged 61 years
Also
Fred Hirst
Aged 22 years
Son of the above
who died of wounds received in action in France
on 1st Oct. 1916
Beloved wife weep not for me
From toil and care I now am free
Though death has called me from thy side
God will protect and be thy guide
Weep not for me my children dear
I am not dead but resting here
My end you know, my grave you see
Therefore prepare to follow me.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Fred Hirst, one of 9 children, all of whom survived, was the 5th born of 6 sons and had 2 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Allen Hirst born at Boston and mother Mary Aspinell of Kilpin Hill, both in the county of Yorkshire, were born 1855 and 1858 respectively. They were married November 6th 1875 at St. Peter Birstall, settling initially at Northorpe, Yorkshire, where their son William was born in 1878, Harriet 1880 and Hiram 1882. Between 1882 and 1886 they migrated to the north east, Joseph 1886 and Robert 1889 were born at Oakenshaw, County Durham, however, 2 years later they were living at 24, High King Street, Escomb, near Bishop Auckland. Allen Hirst was employed as a coal miner, William (13) also worked at the colliery at the bank. The remainder of their children, Sarah 1892, Fred 1894 and Allan 1898 were born in County Durham with the exception of Mary 1901 who was born while they were living at 28, Stanley Street, Newburn Hall, Northumberland. Allen and William working as hewers had now been joined by Hiram (19) and Joseph (15), Fred and his younger siblings were scholars. Having returned to County Durham in 1911 Allen, his wife, Fred, Allen Jnr and Mary were living at 3, Church Street, Quebec, their elder children had left home.
Fred left his employment as a coal miner and enlisted at the Esh Recruitment Office, December 12th 1915. Assigned as Private 30240 Durham Light Infantry he was posted the following day to the Army Reserve. Mobilised January 28th 1916 he was posted to the 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, joining his regiment at Barnard Castle. After months of intense training the regiment departed from Southampton May 4th 1916 attached to the 41st Division, landing at Le Havre, France May 5th. They first entered the front line trenches at Armentieres May 29th 1916 and for the next 3 months spent their time in and out of the trenches on the Western Front suffering casualties every day. By September 1916 they were in Belgium but were sent south to the Somme where they fought at Flers, September 14th. Over the next few days they lost over 100 men mostly due to shell fire before spending a week in reserve cleaning equipment ready to return to the Somme. En-route to Gueudecourt, September 30th 1916, Private Hirst was shot, a gunshot wound to the head and evacuated back through the lines to the 15th Canadian Medical Dressing Station.
Private 30240 Fred Hirst Durham Light Infantry succumbed to wounds sustained October 1st 1916 and was interred at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, Somme, France, grave V. B. 24. He was 22 years of age and single.
His mother received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 3, Church Street, Quebec, County Durham.
His grief stricken family were to suffer yet further loss, Allen Hirst died within a few months of his son on February 25th 1917 aged 61 years, and his brother Corporal Robert Hirst was killed in action August 26th 1918.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Fred Hirst is remembered at Quebec on Q2.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 269