Frederick William Mumford
Frederick William Mumford
Alice Mumford and Harry Ashley 1915
Judith Cook and Dorothy Hall have submitted the following:
Frederick William was the son of Frederick William and Emily Elizabeth (nee Brock) Mumford. He was born in 1896 at Gateshead. His parents were living at 49 Derwentwater Road in 1891, 16 Bell Street Bensham in 1901 and 36 Bensham Crescent in 1911. Frederick William Senior was a Riveter 1891, Boiler Smith 1901 and a Bridge Yard Plater in 1911. He and Emily had eleven children, three of whom had died by 1911. Frederick William Junior was the only boy with seven sisters. (Emily, Florence, Daisy, Alice, Cecilia, Gladys and Nora). He was in 1911 an apprentice fitter.
At the outbreak of war Fred enlisted at Gateshead and joined the 7th Battalion of the D.L.I. – the Gateshead local battalion. From his low number 1815 it is possible he had been in the Territorial Army. Fred went to France 20th April 1915 and at some point later must have moved to the 9th Battalion.
Durham Record Office has in its archive some items concerning Fred. (D/DLI 7/ 485 /1-6)
04/11/1915 Mumford Signal Section 7th DLI
Dear Ally (Alice)
We are in trouble again and up to the neck in clarts and muck. My arm is quite better now and I am at my Battalion again.
There is talk just now of us going away for a month’s rest but how far it is true I don’t know. Today is Guy Fawkes day we have a few squibs and we are going to blow them up – we have not forgot that yet.
Has father got me what I asked for yet?
(2014 Note – this was copied on November 5th 2014 99 years later!)
09/04/1916 Letter to his sister Alice
Thanks very much for your letter which I received. I have given Harry his. He is in the officers’ mess again so he is alright.
We are having very canny weather for just now and the ground is about dry.
We are out of the trenches again for a while but will be going in again in a few days so will have to rely on field cards again.
You might ask my mother Ally if she will send me a writing pad or some paper and envelopes as I have none as you will see by the message form I used last letter I wrote.
Well Ally I will have to pack up now as there is very little to talk about just now so will pack up
Love to all at home
Your loving brother Fred
P.S. don’t forget the paper
Alice and Henry (Harry) W. Ashley were married in April 1915 just before Harry and Fred left for France. The Durham Record Office archives Henry Ashley D DLI 7/21 1-4 includes a photo of Alice and Harry on their wedding day. Harry was Service Number 964 DLI and 611891 Labour Corps. He survived the War.
The three photographs are reproduced by permission of the Trustees of the former DLI and Durham County Record Office
Private Frederick Mumford, aged 20 died of pneumonia 28/08/1916 and is buried at Allonville. His mother added “His duty well done” and “Peace Perfect Peace” to his Commonwealth Headstone.
Frederick William Mumford is remembered at Teams on T68.02 and in the Supplementary Roll of Honour G39.123
