Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Frederick Alexander Adcock was born on 29 October 1894 in Cawston, Norfolk to Martha Fisher Adcock, a single woman.  In 1891, Frederick was living at Langley Street, Norwich with his grandmother, Martha E (59) a widow, living on her own means and his mother, Martha F (33), also living on her own means.  In 1901, Frederick (16) is a carpenter’s apprentice living at 71 Waddington Street, Heigham, Norwich with his grandmother and mother and his uncle William (44), also living on his own means.

On 29 October 1904, Frederick’s 20^th birthday, he married Sarah Anne Townshend at Foulsham, Norfolk and in 1911 they were living at 202 Northumberland Street, Norwich with their five-year-old son Frederick.

On 24 June 1916, Frederick enlisted initially with the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was 5ft 5in, weighed 131lbs, with a 35in chest.  On 12 October 1916, he was called up for service with the Royal Engineers as a skilled carpenter and joiner and based at Chatham.  He was mobilised on 13 February 1917 and posted to No 3 Depot, Newark.  He passed through Peterborough East Station on 9 April 1917, whilst stationed at Newark-on-Trent and wrote in the visitors’ book “many thanks to the kind young ladies of this rest for their welcome to me”.

He embarked for Boulogne on 9 September 1917 and was posted to the 14^th Northumberland Fusiliers.  On 6 January 1918, he joined the 206^th Battalion Royal Engineers.  He was wounded on 29 September 1918, with a gunshot wound to the head when he was struck by fragment of shell in the frontal region, but the shell did not penetrate. He was brought back to England and admitted to hospital.  He was demobilised on 11 February 1919.  He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory medals.

In 1939, Frederick and Sarah were still living at 202 Northumberland Street, Norwich and Frederick was a carpenter.  Frederick died at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on 9 July 1965.

Do you recognise Frederick’s story?  Please get in touch if you can tell us more.