Frederick John Best

Story:
Frederick John Best was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1879 and baptised there on 3 Aug 1879 the son of John Best and Sarah Jane Best (nee Wareham).   He lived for a short time only in Compton Abbas before his family moved to, firstly, to Wimborne, Dorset and then to Bishopstone, Wiltshire.  Frederick enlisted on 4 Apr 1899 with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5943) but was discovered to be under age at the time and was discharged. He re-enlisted with the same Regiment on 13 Jun 1899 once eligible and joined the 3rd Battalion serving in South Africa where he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal (3 Clasps) and the King's South Africa Medal (1 Clasp).  On returning to the UK he met and married Martha Morris in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales, on 27 Oct 1906.  He was placed on reserve in 1911 and took up the position of Postman in Carmarthen, Wales.  He was mobilized on 5 Aug 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion (Service No. 5339) being eventually posted to France and Flanders from 1 Jun 1915 and in time was promoted to Lance Corporal.  During 1917 he received Gun Shot Wounds and was discharged on 20 Sep 1917 as being physically unfit for further service.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 134031 as well as the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star.  His wife died during 1920 and by the time of the 1921 Census he was living at 47 Little Water Street, Carmarthen, with his four children, working still as a Postman. It is thought he remarried shortly after but no reliable record has been found. His death was recorded on 29 Jun 1923 in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire.