Enid Hoseason has submitted the following:
Fred Fenwick was born on the 28th July 1889 in Durham, His parents were William Fenwick a painter and Dorothy Wilson Bowes. In 1891, the family were living at Chapel Passage in Elvet, Durham City. By 1901 the family had relocated to Lister’s Buildings at Old Elvet ( his name is recorded as Frederick)
On the 24th December 1910, Fred married Mabel Newton at St Oswald’s Church, and Mabel gave birth to five children, Rachael, Doris, Walter and Frederick and Thomas.
Fred was 5 feet 6 inches tall with a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes, his religion was Church of England.
His service records are not complete, there is no indication that he served with the Expeditionary Force, however, the pension records show that he sustained a gun shot wound to his right forearm, the record is then stamped “Dormant”
There are no World War 1 service records for Fred. The Durham Light Infantry Medal Rolls Register show that 8/776 Frederick Fenwick of the 1/8th D.L.I.was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Part Service Records are available from 1920:
The Attestation record show that he enlisted for 3 years in 1920 with the 8th Battalion, D.L.I. Territorial Force stating that he previously served as No 316947. The medical records show that his physical development was good and he had good eyesight, He stated that he had been vaccinated in childhood and in the army, He also had a tattoo on his left forearm. He was employed as a plate layer.
He spent 3 years with the Territorial Force attending the annual training camp in 1920, 1921 and 1922.
The 1939 register shows that Fred and his family were living in Railway Cottages, Crossgate Moor, Durham. Fred was still employed as a railway plate layer. Fred died in 1970.
Fred’s brothers also served.
Private 4/9667 George Fenwick, 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was killed on the same day as Arthur, He is buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovilliers-La Boiselle. (Plot 4; Row R; Grave 2)
Private 24/1317 Arthur Fenwick, 24th (Tyneside Irish) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers was killed on the 1st July 1916. He is also buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle. ( Plot 11 Row H 11)
Private 2472 Walter Fenwick, 1/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry died on the 26 April 1915. He is buried at Perth Cemetery, (China Wall)
Private 172883 John Fenwick, 53rd (YS) Battalion, TR, D.L.I. did not serve abroad, survived, Silver War badge Holder
Private 32570 Thomas Henry Fenwick, 14th 2nd & 12th Durham Light Infantry
Fred Fenwick is not remembered on a local memorial.
