Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Frederick Moody, known as Fred, was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1883, one of 8 children, of whom only 7 survived, he was the second born of 3 sons and 4 daughters. His parents Francis Moody and Catherine Waits, both natives of Felling born in 1856 were married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1873. While they were living at Wellington Street Francis was employed as a mechanic at the chemical works. He passed away in 1890 aged 34 years, Catherine’s only means of support was her second son Joseph (16) who worked as a coal miner, his siblings were scholars. After the death of Francis they moved to Split Crow Court then again by 1901 to 2, Park Row. Fred was now the only son still living at home old enough to be employed, working as a screener above ground at the colliery, his elder siblings had married and left home.
Fred married at the Registry Office, Gateshead, March 16th 1907 to Maria Georgeson, they moved in with her widowed mother at 9, Beaufort Street, Gateshead. Their daughter Polly Georgeson Moody was born July 23rd 1907 and a son Ralph Georgeson Moody in 1910. Fred’s wife Maria died in 1912 aged 25 years, he and his children moved in with his mother living at 2, Park Row, Gateshead. Tragically Ralph Georgeson died in 1914 aged only 4 years.
Fred Moody left his employment as a labourer to enlist December 7th 1915, assigned as Private 33308 to the Durham Light Infantry he was sent to the Reserve at Seaham until June 6th 1916 when he was mobilised for active service overseas. He departed via Folkestone for France, December 9th 1916 joining the 10th Battalion D.L.I. attached to the 43rd brigade, 14th Division in the field, in reserve, after the conclusion of the Battles of the Somme, although they were still subjected to shelling by the enemy. January 10th 1917 he was taken by the 44th Field Ambulance to the 14th Dressing Station suffering from deafness returning to duty 8 days later.
In 1917 the battalion fought the Germans during the Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe at Arras and the Battle of Langemarck, late August 1917 during the 3rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium.
Private 33308 Fred Moody was killed in action August 22nd 1917 on the Ypres salient, due to the nature of the heavy clay and waterlogged terrain his body was never recovered. His sacrifice is recorded as one of almost 35,000 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms the boundary wall of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres in Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and New Zealand who died on the Ypres salient as of August 15th 1917 who have no known grave.
As per his will made December 15th 1916, as his sole beneficiary, his mother Catherine received all monies due to him along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. September 21st 1917 the Army returned to her the personal effects of her son consisting of 2 letters, photos, pocket book and 2 cards. After she wrote a letter to the Pensions Office stating that since the death of her daughter-in-law she had been her granddaughter’s legal guardian, she received a pension of 7 shillings a week as of April 17th 1918.
Polly Moody married in 1929 at Gateshead to William H. Henderson. Catherine Moody nee Waits died aged 76 in 1933, registration district of Gateshead, County Durham.
His younger brother Hubert Moody also served during WW1 assigned as Lance Corporal 9/492 Durham Light Infantry. He was killed February 24th 1915 and interred at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave II. A. 16. He was 26 years old and single.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Fred Moody is remembered in Gateshead on G39.025
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 221
