FREDERICK BARDSLEY 

Rank: Private
Service Number:12348.
Regiment: 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment
Killed In Action Thursday 6th September 1917
Age Unknown
FromStockport.
County Memorial Stockport
Commemorated\Buried Ypres Menin Gate Memorial
Grave\Panel Ref: Panel 19 - 22.
CountryBelgium

Frederick's Story.

Fred was born in the parish of St Mark’s C of E Church, Berlin Road, Stockport. After the war his father, Joseph, was living at Highfield Street, Bredbury and was presumably responsible for submitting his son’s name for inscription on the local war memorial. This records Fred as serving with the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. There is, however, no confirmed information to support the suggestion that he fought with the Regiment’s Regular Army Battalion, however his medal index card dates his arrival in France as the 15th July 1915, the 10th battalion did not go to France till September, it is possible therefore he spent a few months with another battalion.


His service number is entirely consistent with him volunteering in August or September 1914. Prior to his enlistment, Fred worked at Ward’s Hat Works in Bredbury. During his army service, he was twice wounded. The first time was in the knee. The second time was in the wrist – a common place for soldiers to be shot as they sighted their rifle over the trench parapet. He spent a long time recovering in hospital in Whalley, Blackburn. After a period of home leave, he returned to his Battalion on 24 April 1917.On 7 June, Fred took part in an attack which later became known officially as the Battle of Messines. The next day was spent consolidating the newly gained positions. On the 9th, the Battalion’s War Diary records "The day was spent in improving our trenches and carrying up stores, etc. A number of rounds of shrapnel were sent over by the enemy but very little damage was done." Sometime during the day, Fred was killed, most probably by the enemy shellfire. If ever his comrades had the opportunity to properly bury him, the location of his grave was lost during the course of the war and he is now commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Ieper.