Frederick Read

Story:
Frederick Read was born on 16th January 1871 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, the son of William Read and Selina Read (née Fletcher).  He lived in and around East Knoyle for all of his early life including 2 Church Hill.   He had served as a reserve with the Dorsetshire Regiment from 21st January 1892 until discharged on 5th January 1906.  He re-enlisted on 27th April 1915 with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14337) as a Private. He served in France & Flanders with 1st, 3rd and 2nd Battalions.  He was transferred on 14th December 1916 to the 11th Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 38395).   On the 21st November 1917 he was transferred to the 166th Labour Company followed by the 651 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 99317).  During his service he received bomb wounds at Meharicourt, France, on 21st April 1917.  He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.   He married Minnie Ayres in 1924 who regrettably died in 1927.  There appear to be no children of the marriage.  By the 1939 Register Frederick was living at 17d Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was working as a casual labourer.  He died in 1952 in the Blandford, Dorset, Registration District.