Frederick's Story.
Frederick Dickens was born in September 1890 in Great Budworth. He was the third eldest of nine children born to William and Harriet Dickens of South Bank Cottages, Great Budworth, Cheshire. Â Frederick was a domestic gardener for Mr & Mrs Hall of Byfield, Great Budworth.
He attested at Chester on the 25th August 1914, just three weeks after war was declared, and from his records, one of only 30% that survive, we see he was 5' 7™ tall and in good health.
He enlisted as Private 11574 of the 8th Battalion Cheshire Regiment and following his call-up on the 26th June 1915, and training he was sent with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force firstly to Egypt where they prepared for the imminent landings at Gallipoli.
He wrote home shortly before he was killed saying "I have been expecting to hear from you and I have not received The Guardian for some time."
On that fateful day:
TRENCHES
21st
The Battn occupied these fire and support trenches situated in 118.R.5-8 (ANAFARTA SAGIR map) the TURKISH lines being about 500X distance on our right (our front facing E) coming to within 200X on our left. Frontage of trenches occupied by Battn about 275X
27th - 28th
Heavy rifle fire opened about 7.30 p.m. on extreme right, firing spread down the line both from Turks and English and the artillery on both sides opened fire. This Battn did not join in the fire as no movement of the enemy was observed opposite to it or on its immediate flanks, but Turks fire came over our parapets and the three companies in our firing line only fired a few rounds of controlled fire by traverses as the Turks had ceased firing.
Frederick received bullet wounds to his abdomen and leg on the 28th August and following a time at a dressing station he was transferred to H.S. Devanha, a P&O cruise liner now converted into a hospital ship for transfer back to Britain.
Frederick died of wounds on the 6th September 1915. He was buried at sea.
Sister Cunningham, a nurse on board the hospital ship, wrote to his parents -
'Your son was very badly wounded in the abdomen whilst fighting in the Dardanelles about a month ago and he passed away quite peacefully a week ago, poor fellow. We were so sorry he died. He was such a good patient and always so grateful for what was done for him. I brought him over from the Peninsular on route for England on a hospital ship. I so wish he could have lived to see you. He often spoke to me of you and he asked me to write and give you his love.'
Researched and compiled by Tony Davies.