LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Private Frederick George Worsfold
1 Bn East Surrey Regiment
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
Pte
Frederick G Worsfold
1st East Surrey Regt
Bray
Sept 28 1916
The regimental records of the Queens give Frederick Worsfold's second name
as George and state that he died of wounds. His place of birth is given as
Leatherhead and he enlisted at Kingston upon Thames. His regimental number
was 7121. (1)
The May 1915 issue of the Parish magazine lists him as serving overseas
with the 1st Bn. East Surreys. (2)
According to the Battalion's War Diary, the 1st. East Surreys relieved the
Royal West Kents in the trenches on 24th September, and sustained 27
casualties from shelling, which also broke the telephone lines. (3)
Next day, 25th, zero hour was 12.35 hours, the battalion went 'over the
top', and got back with a strength of 7 officers and 200 men! In the War
Diary casualties are given as 12 officers and 1910 men. Possibly this
figure is for the whole Brigade.
If the Brigade was at full strength, that is four battalions with an
establishment of 1000 men each, over half had become casualties. In those
days a brigade had four battalions, which was reduced to three in 1918
after the dreadful losses of the last four years.
Evidently the East Surreys must have sustained terrible losses, and
Frederick Worsfold probably incurred his mortal injuries on either the
24th or 25th.
By the 28th the battalion was back behind the lines.
Notes on sources
1. Records of the Regimental Museum of the Queens, Clandon Park, Surrey.
2. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead: issue of May
1915 (courtesy of Mr L Anstee of the parish).
3. File W095–1579 War Diary of 1st Bn. The East Surreys - Public Record
Office, Kew, Richmond.
Stop press
Parish Magazine
Issue of November 1916 gives date of death from wounds as 18 September
1916.
Soldiers Who Died in the Great War states that he died of wounds on
28 September 1916. [CWGC 28th]
Further research
Private
WORSFOLD, FREDRICK GEORGE
Service Number 7121
Died 28/09/1916
Aged 24
1st Bn. East Surrey Regiment
Buried at GROVE
TOWN CEMETERY, MEAULTE
Location: Somme, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: I. K. 5.
Frederick's name was in the following issues of the Leatherhead
Parish Magazine:
July & October 1915
A. In the Fleet and at the Front.
Worsfold, Sergt. F., E. 1st East Surrey
January & March 1916
A. In the Fleet and at the Front.
Worsfold. F. G., 1st East Surrey
November 1916
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
Sept. 18. Frederick George Worsfold. 1st East Surrey, died of wounds.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 14 October 1916
LEATHERHEAD AND THE WAR
LOCAL CASUALTIES.
PTE. F. G. WORSFOLD.
Among the large number of young
men who enlisted from the Fairfield district of Leatherhead, casualties
have been somewhat heavy, and this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Worsfold, of
Stevens Cottages, Middle-road, Leatherhead, have received a notification
from the Infantry Record Office at Hounslow that their son, Pte. Fredk.
G. Worsfold, the East Surrey Regt., died Sept. 28th from wounds received
in action.
Pte. Worsfold, who was 24 years
of age, joined the East Surreys just after the outbreak war, and after
training at Devonport went out to France in January, 1915. He saw a good
deal of fighting, and was in the memorable action at the taking of Hill
60.
After he joined the Army he was
only able to come home and see his parents once, that being in January of
this year, after he had done twelve months active service in France. Mr.
and Mrs. Worsfold have two other sons in the Army, one being in the
Artillery and another in the Royal West Kents, while yet another is in the
Navy, serving at the present time on the Queen Elizabeth.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 30 December 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR. BRAVE SURREY MEN
FALLEN IN THE WAR.
LEATHERHEAD AND DISTRICT
OCTOBER
WORSFOLD, Pte. F. G., East Surrey Regt., died from wounds received in
action, son of Mr. and Mrs. Worsfold, Middle-road, Leatherhead.
His life
Frederick was born on 28 November 1891 and baptised on 31 January 1892
at Leatherhead Parish Church, Surrey.
His father was Henry Worsfold born about 1857 in Capel, Surrey, a son of
James and Sarah Worsfold. He was a Bricklayers Labourer.
His mother was Mary Jane Worsfold née Winsor baptised 15
February 1861 in Blandford Forum, Dorset, a daughter of Robert and Anne
Winsor. Her father was a Labourer.
Henry and Mary's marriage was registered in Croydon, Q4 1881
Frederick's siblings were Alfred W, Robert Harold, Henry J, Arthur L,
Maggie, Albert E Worsfold.
Frederick lived at:
1892 Baptism: Highlands Road, Leatherhead
1901 Census: Stevens Cottages, Fairfield, Leatherhead
1911 Census: not with family: Fetcham Park?
It appears that he was unmarried when he died.
There does not appear to be any close family connection with Lance
Corporal William Worsfold of the East Surreys, who is also named on
Leatherhead War Memorial.
After the war
His parents lived on at 12 Middle Road, Leatherhead with
their son Arthur Leonard Worsfold.
His father, Henry's death at the age of 74 was registered
at Epsom in January 1932.
His mother, Mary Jane's death at the age of 85 was
registered in Surrey South Western District in April 1946.
Frederick Worsfold is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of
Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead
Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial
Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey
in the Great War
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 11 Aug 20: 30 Dec 20