Frederick Verdon King

A Private with the 16th Battalion, Frederick died on 28th of January 1916 at the age of 21. 

Frederick was born at Norwich on 19 April 1895, a son of Edwin Procter and Charlotte Emma King. In 1901 has family lived at ‘Lock Up Shop’, 39, West End Street, Heigham, Norwich. Frederick was baptised at Saint Matthew’s Church, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, on 27 December 1903. By 1911 his family were living at 26 Salisbury Road, Lowestoft, and Frederick was an apprentice carpenter, possibly working with his father. 

Frederick volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lad's Brigade) King’s Royal Rifle Corps, service number C/443. Frederick's battalion was made up of current and former members of the Church Lad's Brigade and volunteers for that battalion came from all over Britain. He arrived in France, with the battalion, on 17 November 1915.

On 23 January 1916 the 16th Battalion moved to Annequin Fosse and took over positions from the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment. They occupied Mud Trench, Railway Keep, and later Hamilton Trench and Old Boots Trench. On 28 January their positions were subject to an intense enemy artillery bombardment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This bombardment affected front line, communication and support trenches and a position known as Sims Keep was particularly ‘battered’.

The Battalion’s casualties were: one officer wounded, 21 other ranks killed, including Frederick, and 30 wounded.