Fred Pamely

Bank of Montreal

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

The only child of plumber and painter Seth Pamely from Bishop Middleham, and his wife Hannah Wanless Render, who had married in April 1896, Frederick Pamely was born on 6th June 1898 in Rose Cottage, Brandon, and when old enough he attended King James I Grammar School in Bishop Auckland. 1st April 1911 saw Seth, Hannah, a teacher, and Frederick board the SS Empress of Britain in Liverpool making for New Brunswick and then an overland journey to Red Deer, Alberta. On arrival Frederick completed his education at Red Deer High School and in 1913 started work as a bank clerk at the local branch of the Bank of Montreal, and also spent two and a half years as a member of the local militia groups the 35th Central Alberta Horse.

May 1916 saw Fred enlisting in the CEF and becoming Private 883107 attached to the 187th Battalion at Sarcee Camp under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C.W. Robinson, and which sailed for England in December 1916 where, on arrival at the camp at Witley he was promoted to acting Corporal. The 187th was absorbed into the 21st Reserve Battalion in February 1917 and moved to the camp at Seaford. Four months later he reverted to Private and was part of a draft sent to join the 50th Battalion in Vancouver Camp, Chateau de la Haie, France.

In August the battalion received orders to capture Aloof Trench at Lens and it was in the fighting there that Private 883107 received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder and knee and was initially treated at #6 Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to #7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. After a spell as orderly sergeant with #4 CCD he rejoined his unit in the front line at Vimy, and it was in the trenches at Avion on 12th January 1918 that Private 883017 Frederick Pamely was killed in action.

Frederick Pamely is remembered at Brancepeth on B151.01

He is remembered in Canada on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance. He also has an entry in the Bank of Montreal’s “Memorial of the Great War, 1914-18: a record of service in honour of the members of staff who served with the colours”.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Private Pamely