Frederick Robert Sexbury

A Boy Cook with H.M. Trawler John Pascoe, Frederick died on 28th of October 1917 at the age of 17. 

Frederick was born at Flixton on 11 March 1900, a son of Robert and Mary Ann Sexbury. In 1901 his family lived at The Street, Flixton. By 1911 they were living at Saint Mary’s Terrace, Flixton Road, Bungay. Later his parents lived at 23 Ipswich Road, Lowestoft, then 62 High Street, and then 44 Princes Road. 

From 8 April 1907 to 18 April 1913 Robert was a pupil at Bungay Boys School. 

Frederick volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Norwich on 28 August 1915. He was only fifteen years old, but claimed to be 19. At the time he was living at Mile End, Mettingham Road, Bungay, and working as a grocer’s assistant. Frederick joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 19995. In February 1916 Frederick contacted his family telling them that he was due to be posted to France. On 5 February 1916 his mother wrote to the Army stating ‘I greatly object to his going being underage have forwarded birth certificate to certify age’. Once Frederick’s real age was made known to his battalion officers he was honourably discharged, on 21 February 1916, ‘having made a mis-statement as to his age on attestation.’ 

Frederick joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 23 May 1917. He served with H.M.S. Kingfisher, until 5 June 1917, when he joined H.M.S. Vivid. From 24 July 1917 he was with H.M.S. Pekin and, on 6 august 1917 he joined the trawler John Pascoe. 

Frederick developed tubercular meningitis and he died, from this condition, at the Royal Naval Hospital, Truro. 

Note: Frederick’s surname has variant spellings including Sexbury, Sexburry, and Sexbery.