Medal Index Card
Recruitng Poster IWM Art Post 5022
Frederick Robert Lavender was born on the 4th September 1886, to Henry, [born January 1842, died December 1922 at Hendon], an agricultural labourer and Woodman, and Sarah Ann Pendry, born 12th October, 1864 in Middlesex, died 1941 in Essex. [in 1939 was residing as a widow at 56c Aslett Street, Wandsworth, London, England]. The daughter of Henry and Sarah. [Henry married Sarah Ann Pendry on the 27th September 1876 in Fulham, Middlesex. They had five children in 22 years]. Frederick Robert was baptised on the 3rd October 1886, in the parish of Ruislip at St Johns the Baptist Church, Greenhill, Middlesex.
Walter Henry Lavender was born on the 12th June 1877 in Ruislip, Middlesex, he married Hannah (Anna) Jane Parsons on the 4th July 1898 in his hometown. [Hannah (Anna) Jane Parsons was born on the 20th October 1871 in Redruth, Cornwall, her father, Silas, was 33, and her mother, Hannah, was 35]. They had one child during their marriage. [In 1939 they were residing at 73 Shakespeare Avenue, Willesden M.B., Middlesex, he was a Electric Motorman Lms], she had five brothers and four sisters. He died in March 1963 in Newbury, Berkshire, at the age of 85, Florence Lucy Mary Lavender was born on the 20th October 1879 in Ruislip, Middlesex, John Stanley was born in 1878, [the son of George, married Florence Lucy Mary Lavender on the 28th April 1901 in Ruislip, Middlesex. He died in June 1955 at the age of 77]. She died on the 14th April 1939 in Shanklin, Hampshire, at the age of 59, Ethel Mary Lavender was born on the 12th December 1882 in Ruislip, Middlesex, She married George Eden [George Eden was born on the 3rd April 1881 in Harrow, Middlesex]. He married Ethel Mary Lavender on the 14th December 1902 in his hometown. He died in 1941 in Brighton, Sussex, at the age of 60, [retired GPO worker], they had one child during their marriage, born 13th November 1906, a boy called S.G. Eden who was incapacitated. [In 1939 they were residing at 112 Hartington Road, Brighton C.B., Sussex, England]. She died on the 21st August 1951 in Brighton, Sussex, at the age of 68. Lesley Henry Lavender born 9th March 1915 in Leatherhead and died in Reading on the 9th March 1996 age 81. [In 1939 he was residing at 26 Forester Avenue, Bath C.B., Somerset, England, employed as a Civil Servant for the Admiralty].
After leaving School Frederick was employed by the London and North Western Railway Company with the Coaching Department as a Junior Porter from the 14th April 1903, starting with a wage of 11s a week, then progressed to 13s from the 29th April 1904, finally from the 28th April 1905 he was receiving 15s a week. He resigned from the Railway on the 1st June 1905. His number in service was 12733. Class A medical condition. He was based at the Wembley to Sudbury station.
Frederick was married to Gertrude Mary Stockdale, [born Shouldham, Norfolk in 1888] on the 25th April 1909 at the St Johns the Baptist Church at Greenhill in Middlesex. Gertrude was 21 years of age, a Housemaid residing at 2 Lisgar Terrace, West Kensington, and her father was called William Robert Stockdale, [born 1867], who was a farm labourer. [Her mother was Frances M Stockdale, born 1869], Frederick was a Milkman by this time, residing at 42 Roxborough Road, Greenhill. Middlesex, London. He was then employed by the Swan Brewery Company.
They had one daughter called Gertrude Fredrica Lavender who was born on the 7th February 1910 in Hammersmith, London, England. She died in February 1992 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, at the age of 82.
Frederick and Gertrude with their daughter Gertrude in 1911 were residing at The Laurels, Vale Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire. Frederick was a Milkman.
In 1915, there was insufficient numbers of volunteers enlisting into the Army, so a Military Bill was introduced in January 1916 for the conscription of single men aged between 18 and 41, this was later extended in May 1916 to include married men, and in April 1918 the upper age was raised to 50 (or to 56 if the need arose).
The Derby Scheme was introduced in autumn 1915 by Herbert Kitchener's new Director General of Recruiting, Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865–1948). They would demonstrate whether British manpower goals could be met by volunteers or if conscription was necessary. Derby required each eligible man aged 18 to 41 who was not in a "starred" (essential) occupation to make a public declaration. When the scheme was announced many men went to the recruiting office without waiting to be "fetched". It was an enormous enterprise. Each eligible man’s pink card from the recently completed National Register was copied onto a blue card, which was sent to his local Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. The Committees appointed canvassers who were "tactful and influential men" not liable for service, many were experienced political agents. Discharged veterans and fathers of serving men proved most effective. A few canvassers threatened rather than cajoled. Women were not permitted to canvas but did track men who had moved. Each man was handed a letter from Derby explaining the programme, emphasising that they were in "… a country fighting, as ours is, for its very existence ...". Face to face with the canvasser each man announced whether or not he would attest to join the forces, no one was permitted to speak for him. Those who attested promised to go to the recruiting office within 48 hours; many were accompanied there immediately. If found fit they were sworn in and paid a signing bonus of 2s 9d. The following day they were transferred to Army Reserve B. A khaki armband bearing the Royal Crown was to be provided to all who had enlisted or who had been rejected, as well as to starred and discharged men (but they were no longer issued or worn once compulsion was introduced). The enlistee’s data was copied onto a new white card which was used to assign him to a married or unmarried age group. There were 46 groups. They were promised that only entire groups would be called for active service and they would have 14 days’ advance notice. Single men's groups would be called before married; any who wed after the day the Scheme began were classified as single. Married men were promised that their groups would not be called if too few single men attested, unless conscription was introduced. The survey was done in November and December 1915. It obtained 318,553 medically fit single men. However, 38 per cent of single men and 54 per cent of married men had publicly refused to enlist. This left the government short and conscription was introduced.
Men who were due to be called up for military service were able to appeal against their conscription, or their employers on their behalf to local Military Service Tribunals in the town or District. The appeals could be made on the grounds of working of national importance, business or domestic hardship, medical unfitness and conscientious objection.
By the end of June 1916, 748,587 men had appealed. The standards of the tribunals were capricious: in York a case was determined in an average of eleven minutes, two minutes was the rule at Paddington in London. Although it has been the focus of the tribunals' image since the war, only two percent of those appealing were conscientious objectors. Around 7,000 of them were granted non-combatant duties, while a further 3,000 ended up in special work camps. 6,000 were imprisoned. Forty two were sent to France to potentially face a firing squad. Thirty five were formally sentenced to death, but immediately reprieved, with ten years penal servitude substituted.
Many of those appealing were given some kind of exemption, usually temporary (between a few weeks and six months) or conditional on their situation at work or home remaining serious enough to warrant their staying at home. In October 1916 1.12 million men held tribunal exemption or had cases pending, by May 1917 this had fallen to 780,000 exempt and 110,000 pending. At this point 1.8 million men were exempted, more men than were serving overseas with the British Army. Some men were exempted on the condition that they joined the Volunteer Training Corps for part-time training and home defence duties; by February 1918, 101,000 men had been directed to the Corps by the tribunals.
Frederick would have received his call up papers around the 27th April 1916 and had up to the 29th May 1916 to report for service. He was in Class 34, a married man born in 1886.
Frederick's employer applied to a tribunal on the grounds that he was the only Milkman who could do the job requiring Sunday Deliveries.
A meeting of the Leatherhead Tribunal was held at the Council Offices on Friday evening last, when there was present: Messrs. T. J. Leavey (chairman), J. W. Young, F.H. Walker, Lindsay Young, W. J. Weller, S. Mould, C.R. Phillips, E.H. Burgess, F. Kingsnorth, E. T. Wade (representative of the Board of Agriculteral), H. G. Rivington (military representative), and W. J. Hodges (clerk). The Swan Brewery Company appealed.
The Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser 25/11/1916 reported that "Mr. W, Lofts, dairyman, Leatherhead, applied for exemption for R.F. Lavender (30), of Oakleigh-terrace, Kingston-road, Leatherhead, a milk roundsman in his employ. Applicant stated that it was very difficult to get a milk roundsman owing to the long hours and Sunday Work. Mr. Rivington said he could no consent to exemption for a man 30 years of age passed for general service, whose occupation involved no special skill. Mr Lofts said he had advertised, but got no replies, and he had also enquired in the town for a man. Mr Rivington said he thought a woman cold do the work. He thought he had seen a woman on a milk cart in Leatherhead. Mr Lofts said a woman could not stand the work in a scattered district. The Chairman said it would mean that people would have to fetch their milk. They were at war, and they must assist each other as much as they could to release the men. The application was refused".
Group Scheme recruits rarely had a say in the regiment to which they were assigned.
Frederick Robert was selected for the Royal Field Artillery, was given the service number 207722, a Gunner. He was, after training in 'D' Battery 250th Field Artillery Regiment.
"At the start of the Second Boer war in 1899 the War Office decreed that no volunteer artillery units should be sent out to South Africa. However, Lady Meux, the wife of one of the directors of Armstrong Whitworth Arms Company, had six 12-pounder field guns made by the ordnance works at Elswick. These were presented to Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who directed they should be used to equip the battery at Elswick so they would be manned by the men who built them. Formed on the 31st January 1900 the 'Elswick Battery', as it was now known, marched to Newcastle upon Tyne town hall to be sworn in before the Lord Mayor of Newcastle. The Battery arrived in South Africa in April 1900 and fought with distinction until June 1901, when the Battery - now at Elandsfontein - was demobilised, handing its guns over to an artillery militia unit which had arrived from Britain. They left South Africa at the end of June and arrived back in England on 16th July, 1901.
Although the success of the Elswick battery had been recognised they were specialist trained men and were not a true representation of the volunteer artillery movement as a whole. Even before the turn of the century it was apparent that the volunteers were not capable of providing an effective reserve for the army. In 1902 there were again changes and the 1st NVA became 1st Northumberland Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers). The Norfolk Commission, looking into the militia and volunteers units, published their findings in 1907 which resulted in the Territorial Reserve Forces Act being introduced. Under this act the Territorial Force was formed and organised into regional divisions, area brigades and local battalions. The 1st Northumbrian RGA was again re-designated; it was now the 1st Northumbrian Brigade (Royal Field Artillery) with three batteries and an ammunition column, part of the Northumbrian Division. As territorials they were now provided with uniforms, paid per day while on camp and were subject to military law. As a force they were now on a much better footing to support the regular army. In 1914 the 1st Northumbrian Brigades RFA had just departed for annual summer camp, when they received emergency orders recalling them to their home base. All units were mobilised for fulltime war service and on the 5th August 1914 moved to their allotted positions on the Tyne defences. By mid August 1914 the 1st Northumbrian Brigade was equipped with the BLC 15-pounder gun which was a modernised version of the obsolete BL 15-pounder, now incorporating a recoil mechanism above the barrel and modified quick-opening breech. In early April 1915 the Division was warned that it would be going on overseas service and by the 23rd April the 1st (N) Bde had moved from its training area at Gosforth Park Racecourse to a harbour area just to the west of Ypres. The 1st Brigade along with its infantry brigade arrived just in time to go into the action, but due to limited supplies of ammunition the 1st Brigade was not directly involved it the battle, unlike the infantry brigade which was not so lucky, receiving 70% casualties. Due to there being very limited supplies of the outdated 15-pdr ammunition the Brigadede took no part in any serious action until they were re-equipped with the new 18-pounder in October 1915. After some familiarisation training they were soon back in the line in time to give the Germans three good salvos on New Year's morning 1916. In March the 1st Northumbria Brigadede took part in their first major battle of the Ypres Salient. The weather was bitterly cold and accounted for more casualties than the enemy but the Brigade did well in its first action.By the beginning of April 1916 the Brigade was replaced in the line and a fourth battery was raised. The new battery was ready by the middle of May but was taken to form a new 18-pdr Brigade, while the batteries of 4th Durham Howitzer Brigade were distributed to replace them. It was also at this time the Army reorganised the RFA and the 1st Northumbrian was re-titled the 250th Brigade and the batteries titled with letters (rather than numbers) 'A' to 'D', with 'D' being the howitzer battery.
Very little is known about Frederick due to his service record being destroyed by the Luftwaffe in WW2 because of a bombing raid during the Blitz. We know he served in 'D' Battery, which was the Howitzer battery.
The 250th Brigade was part of the [1st Northumbrian Brigade], of the Royal Field Artillery which served with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of the British Army.
The 50th Division was a Territorial division formed in 1908 as one of 14 divisions of the peace time Territorial Force. They had just departed for their annual summer camp went the War broke out. It was mobilised on the 5th August 1914.
The 250th Brigade consisted after 1917, of 4 batteries 'A' 'B' 'C' and 'D' the first three batteries contained 6 each, 18 pounder Ordnance Quick Firing Artillery guns and 'D' Battery contained 6 4.5 Inch Howitzer artillery guns.
Frederick was a member of 'D' Battery. The 4.5 inch Field Howitzer was introduced in 1909, it was serviced by a gun detachment of 10 men. The gun could fire a 35lb high explosive or shrapnel shell to a maximum range of 7,300 yards. Its role was defined as neutralising guns with gas shells, for bombarding defences, enfilading communication trenches, barrage work and wire cutting. The Battery went overseas on the 30th December 1916.
The Third Battle of the Aisne was the battle in which Frederick was wounded and captured. It was a battle of the German Spring Offensive, known as the Kaiserschlact which was launched in the Spring and Summer of 1918. The 50th Division was resting in the Chemin des Dames Ridge area after already surviving the first of the German offensives.
'The woods were full of violets, lilies of the valley and flowers of all kinds...the artillery units, back from the front line trenches had 'the most perfect observation posts they had ever seen, and the walk to them through the wood was delightful...' 'This is the place we have long been seeking"'.
Source : The Fiftieth Division 1914-1919 Everard Wyrall.
The Divisional History continues... "No guns were ... saved."Such is a portion of the Divisional Narrative which tells of the misfortunes of the 250th and 251st Brigades, RFA, under the commands respectively of Lieut-Colonel FGO Johnson and Lieut-Colonel FR Moss-Blundell. On the right, the 250th Brigade kept their guns in action longer than the 251st Brigade, for the latter was quickly enveloped from the left. The narrative contained in the war diary of the former brigade is interesting as showing the battle from the gunners' point of view: At 1 a.m. the enemy bombardment commenced. All lines went down within five minutes. Bombardment was very heavy on all forward areas and on battery positions and head-quarters. S.O.S. went up about 4 a.m. No information was received about the positions of the infantry or state of batteries; orderlies sent out were almost invariably missing. News received about 4.30 am from C/250 through an infantry officer attached to them. At 3 a.m., when he left, only one gun was in action, remainder having been hit. About 6.30 a.m. Major Shiel and Lieut. Richardson arrived at headquarters and say that A/250 had removed sights and breach mechanism as the creeping barrage has passed them, and the enemy are about eight hundred yards in front of them.
"Second-Lieut Hopwood had reported from B/250 that they were still fighting with three of the four guns on their main position. A message had also been received that D/250 were continuing to fire. No further news received from C/250. From information received later, personnel from B/250's main position nearly all got away when the enemy arrived on the position. Very few got away from detached section of 'B', but fair number from detached section of A/250. Very few got away from D/250. Capt. Darling was last seen going towards the enemy with his revolver and Lieut. Earle [in fact it was 2nd Lieutenant Earl], and remaining gunners were firing the last gun left in action. No one got away from main position of C/250, but most of the detachments got away from detached section where Second-Lieut Costar was last seen going towards the enemy with his revolver"
On the morning of the 27th May 1918 the Germans began a bombardment of the Allied front line with over 4000 artillery pieces. The British suffered heavy losses due to the troops being massed in the front trenches on orders from the French Commander Denis Auguste Duchene, in direct contradiction to Commander in Chief Henri-Phillippe Petain orders. The bombardment was followed up by a poison gas attack. The Germans attacked with 17 Sturmtruppen Divisions and overwhelmed the allied lines. The 50th Division artillery was overrun with many gunners staying with their guns and died and others being taken prisoner. 250th Brigade kept its guns longer in action than the other sister Brigade 251st, as they were outflanked by the Germans from the left flank. All guns were lost and the casualties Heavy. Captain Darling with revolver in hand was the commanding officer of 'D' Battery, was last seen charging the enemy, whilst Lieutenant Earle with a few remaining gunners directed fire of 'D' Battery that was still in action.
From The War History of the 1st Northumbrian Brigade, R.F.A (T.F.): "On the 25th [May 1917] A Battery went out to rest and D [250th Brigade] came back again and relieved D/47... The enemy now took to shelling the Battery positions with 8-inch shells, a practice that cannot be too severely condemned. Between the 26th of May and the 3rd of June a large number of these souvenirs arrived amongst us, but owing to our good slits and mined dug-outs, we sustained little damage so far as personnel was concerned, though B had four guns knocked out and A's position was converted into a good imitation of a ploughed field."
From The History of the Third Durham Volunteer Artillery now part of The 274th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment R.A. (T.A.) 1860-1960: "On 21st May [1917], D /250 Battery withdrew for a week's rest and relaxation to an old mill just south of Archicourt... After a week's respite D/250 Battery relieved D/47 Battery in the Hindenburg line near Heninel where although gun-fire was desultory the enemy made himself unpleasant by launching a gas attack to which we replied in good measure." I think the action to which you refer took place on [the] 27th May 1918. On that date the second reference cited above indicates the following: "All the batteries were north, northwest and west of Pontavert. The fighting on the 27th May [1918] will never be forgotten by the 50th Divisional Artillery on account of the disaster which occurred and the gallantry of its gunners, many of whom died alongside the guns they were endeavouring to serve to the last. Most of those who survived were taken prisoner... On the right, the 250th Brigade kept their guns in action longer than the 251st Brigade, for the later was quickly enveloped from the left. The casualties were enormous and not a gun was saved. Very few men escaped. Captain Darling of D/250 Battery was last seen going towards the enemy revolver in hand, whilst Lieutenant Earle with the few gunners remaining was directing the fire of the last battery still in action. Eleven wagons of D/251 Battery which went up from the wagon line to take ammunition to the reserve positions came under machine gun fire at close quarters. Those who escaped death or mutilation in the perilous enterprise were captured."
Report from OC, 250 Brigade: 'D' Battery - my orderlies failed to get through. A gunner arrived asking for orders, which I gave, and he went back. Later Darling sent Willis to Infantry Headquarters to get information. Will found Headquarters moving, and returned to 'D' to find Bosches in the left section. He then came to report to me. A gunner of 'D' is wounded in hospital at Fontainebleu, and wrote, through Grange, confirming the above, and stating that Darling was last seen shooting at the Bosches with his revolver. Earle and two Infantry officers, with a Corporal (the only men left not overcome by gas) working the last gun in action. I think 'D' were more shelled and had more gas than anyone." "'D' Battery put up a fine fight, Darling and Earle, with tow attached Infantry Officers, and a Corporal, working the last gun, after all the rest of the Battery were unconscious with gas, and Darling last seen shooting at the Bosch with his revolver, while the other two worked the gun. It was, of course, impossible to get away the guns, as you could not possibly bring up horses. I got three up for orderlies, and of these two were killed. I sent the last one with a message to D.A., and he got through with it, but I never received a single message from D.A. the whole time."
War Diary of the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 28th May 1918 0100 hrs Enemy put down barrage of extraordinary intensity on the whole area, mixed HE and Gas. This fire was very accurate and caused heavy casualties to the troops 'standing to'. Counter battery work was very effective putting many of our guns out of action. All communications with Brigade HQ, were cut by 03.00 Hrs.0334 hrs Enemy attacked all along the line. The first attacks seem to have been in a South Easterly direction parallel with Route 44.
Frederick was awarded two Medals, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Frederick was wounded and died of his wounds as a POW at Quedlinberg POW Empire Camp, Saxony, Germany.
Quedlinburg is situated north of the Harz mountains in the district of Harz. During the Great War there was a POW camp in Quedlinburg, consisting mostly of French prisoners. The camp was close to a railway line and consisted of eight compounds of six barracks each under the command of the IV Army Corps. The prison barracks were built of wood and heater by iron ovens. The number of prisoners in the camp varied widely - starting with a few hundred in 1915 and 1916. There were 3,400 prisoners in 1917 and after the last German offensive on the western front in the spring of 1918, there were close to 18,000 prisoners. About 700 prisoners died in the camps.
Source : German Camp
He left £24 7s 6d to his wife £9 10s 9d was part of the War Gratuity.
Frederick Robert Lavender is remembered at Gateshead on G39.06
