Parkwood area
Bombardier. H.Q. 87th Brigade. Royal Field Artillery. Service No: 85972.
Early life:
Frederick was born in Keighley in 1877 and his birth was registered there in the third quarter of the year.
He was three years old in the 1881 census and living with his parents James Saxton aged 33 and Sarah Saxton aged 29, at 10, Close Street in Keighley. Also living here were his siblings, Isabel aged ten, George aged eight and Young aged one.
Their father James was employed as an iron moulder. Isabel was a worsted spinner (part time) and George was a scholar.
By 1891 Frederick was aged 13 and living with his family at 68, Park Lane in the Parkwood area of Keighley. His father was still an iron moulder, Isabella was a worsted drawer and George was an iron moulder. Frederick was employed as a worsted doffer (full time) and Young was part time in the same job.
Frederick was aged 21 and living at 20, Beta Street in Parkwood when he married 22 year old Harriet Hannah Cockshott of 38, Cherry Street. The wedding took place on 20th February 1897, at St. Mary’s Church on Dalton Lane.
Their first child was Matilda, born in the second quarter of 1897, not long after their marriage.
In the 1901 census, Frederick aged 25 and Hannah aged 26 were living at 10, Barn Street off Park Lane and Frederick was an iron moulder of machine tools. Their children were Matilda aged three and Charles aged 4 months. He had been born in Keighley on 5th December 1900 and registered in the first quarter of 1901.
Frederick and Hannah had several children in the next few years. They were Florrie, born on 26th September and registered in the last quarter of 1902; Herbert, born on 7th September and registered in the last quarter of 1904; Albert, born on 10th November and registered in the last quarter of 1906; Sarah, born on 6th November and registered in the last quarter of 1908.
Charles, Florrie, Herbert, Albert and Sarah were all baptised together on the 15th July 1909 at St. Mary’s Church, on Dalton Lane in Eastwood, which must have been quite the occasion!
Their seventh child was Isabella and she was born on 11th October 1910, registered in the last quarter of the year.
The 1911 census record shows their large family of nine and they have recently moved to 5, Barn Street which we presume was a little bit larger than number 10, to accommodate them all. The census shows that in their 14 years of marriage Frederick and Sarah had produced nine children, two of whom had died.
Matilda was 13 and a part time Worsted spinner. Charles, Florrie, Herbert, Albert were all at school (Probably at Parkwood Primary School) and the two youngest Sarah and Isabella were still infants.
Frederick was now aged 33 and still employed as an iron moulder by Clapham Brothers who were at Wellington Street, Nelson Street and Market Street in Keighley. They were iron founders, gas and water works engineers and contractors who specialised in iron castings for hot water, rain water, water, steam and underground pipes, valves and hydrants.
They also produced hot water tubular boilers and coils, plus a patented washer scrubber for gas and a cooking range.
On searching for Saxton children born in Keighley between 1897 and 1911, we found at least six who had died very young, so it’s unlikely we could narrow down the names of the two who had died, assuming they had actually been named. Frederick and Harriet had two further children who were Olive, born on 11th December 1911 and Ivy, born on 29th December 1913.
We’re not sure how long Frederick served as a fireman before the war but it’s almost certain that he would have been based at the Coney Lane Fire Station. This building was situated where Coney Lane meets the bottom of Park Lane and was about five minutes walk from either of his homes in Barn Street or Brow Street. The station no longer exists as it was demolished in 1981.
As he was a full time iron moulder during the day, he was probably an auxiliary fireman and was likely to be called out to provide cover for permanent fire crews during large incidents.
War service:
Frederick was an early enlistment after the outbreak of war and a calculation based on the war gratuity payment in his soldier’s effects record, suggests he joined in August or September 1914. This is partially supported by his name being recorded in Keighley’s Gallant Sons, which also tells us he was living at 4, Brow Street in Parkwood and the Electoral rolls show they had recently moved to this house in 1914.
He had served overseas since 18th July 1915, as far as we can tell with 87th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
He was wounded by a gas attack as reported in the local newspaper.
Keighley News, Saturday, February 9th, 1918:
Mrs Saxton, of 4, Brow Street, Keighley, has received news that her husband, Bombardier Fred Saxton, Royal Field Artillery, has been gassed and is in hospital in France. Before enlisting three years ago Bombardier Saxton was employed by Messrs Clapham Brothers, iron founders, Keighley. He returned to France after his second leave about a month ago. Two brothers are also serving.
It is likely that Frederick was gassed in one of the attacks on 23rd or 30th January, detailed in the Brigade war diary below.
WO-95/2067/4 – War diary of 87 Brigade RFA – January 1918
At ETRICOURT.
1st: The first day of the New Year was spent in ETRICOURT
2nd: but on the morning of the 2nd preparations were begun for the return of the Brigade into action. The Wagon lines moved to Neuville, 1 section of Batteries going into action to the relief of the 18th Brigade units.
NEUVILLE
3rd: The Whole Brigade now moved into action, HQ controlling the CENTRE GROUP comprising all Brigade Batteries together with B and D/155. D/87 were bombed on the METZ-TRESCAULT Road, as they moved into action.
4th: Apart from the carrying out of a Night Firing Programme on roads & trenches, the day was eventless.
5th: Today there was a marked increase in the aerial activity shown by both sides, and by night the usual programme was carried through.
6th: Considerable movement was reported on the SUNKEN ROAD between NINE WOOD & MARCOING & this was engaged with good effect, Also B/87 reported the silencing of a Machine Gun which had been located at L.28.b.5.5 (Sheet 57C NE).
7th: Eventless.
8th: At 9 am today the Grouping of the Divisional Artillery was reorganised. B&D/155 passed to the command of the Left Group together with A/87, while HQ of this Brigade now became HQ RIGHT ARTILLERY GROUP, constituted as follows:- B, C+D/87, B+C/88 and all Batteries of the 298th FA Brigade as the Right – Sub-Group
9th: A systematic programme of Night Firing was directed against enemy communications & strong points. In the early morning HQ Wagon Line was bombed. 7 LD being killed & 4 men, including RSM Brown wounded.
10th: Today the German fire on the vicinity of BEAUCHAMP was particularly heavy. The aerial. activity manifested by both sides was also above normal.
11th: At 9am Right Sub Group ceased to exist as such, the units comprising it coming under direct control of these HQ.
On the 13th however, HQ 298th FA. Brigade, relieved HQ/87,
13th: who then withdrew to the Wagon Lines at NEUVILLE BOURJONVAL.
14th – 21st: Throughout this week, HQ remained at rest in NEUVILLE, the batteries remaining under the Right and Left Groups for tactical purposes.
22nd: HQ again moved into action as controlling unit of the Right Group. The Batteries now under the command of Lt-Col Kent comprised, B, C&D/87 with A & D/77.
23rd: Very unexpected & embarrassing were the casualties sustained by HQ on this date, no fewer than 21 members of the Staff being admitted to Hospital as gas patients, Prompt action was taken however, to have the vacancies suitably filled.
23rd/24th: During the night The Group Batteries engaged several roads within the enemy’s lines.
C/87 and D/77 engaged & dispersed German working parties, by night be usual harassing fire was carried out on enemy & communications. Aircraft were active throughout the day in forward areas.
25th: Today batteries of the Group again fired on hostile working parties, strong points, roads & centres of movement in general. The enemy artillery was also active shelling BOAR COPSE very heavily from 5 to 6.30pm. Some of his firing was done with aerial observation. his balloons & aeroplanes being alike prominent.
26th: The Bosche was quieter today but our own firing was on the customary lines.
28th: D/77 today responded to an NF call, fire being directed or crossroads within the enemy’s lines. C/87, on the other hand, fired in response to the Liaison Officers call & again, in the evening with the Sniping Gun This later method of offensive was featured in the nightly programme.
18 pounder batteries of the Group manning the gun in turn. Some enemy movement was observed.
29th: Enemy artillery was very active on battery areas during the day and night. In the early
30th: morning of the 30th, the vicinity of HQ was subjected to a heavy gas shell bombardment. Later in the afternoon, movement was engaged by our batteries with good effect & subsequently the usual night firing an sniping gun programmes were carried out. This apart a feature of the day’s work was that of our airmen, who forced 6 German Balloons to descend, two of these being hit. One of the enemy aviators on the other hand observed for one of his batteries, the efforts of our anti-aircraft guns to drive him off being
quite in vain.
31st: The CO of The Brigade today inspected the various Wagon Lines, the while the GOCRA paid a visit to the Battery positions.
Keighley News, Saturday, February 9th, 1918:
Mrs Saxton, of 4, Brow Street, Keighley, has received news that her husband, Bombardier Fred Saxton, Royal Field Artillery, has been gassed and is in hospital in France. Before enlisting three years ago Bombardier Saxton was employed by Messrs Clapham Brothers, iron founders, Keighley. He returned to France after his second leave about a month ago. Two brothers are also serving.
About ten months later, Frederick died of wounds received in action and was being treated at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital when he died on 14th December 1918.
Keighley News, Saturday 28th December, 1918.
A FIREMAN SOLDIER’S FUNERAL.
The funeral took place with military honours at Keighley cemetery on Saturday, of Bombardier Fred Saxton, of 4, Brow Street. Keighley who died of wounds in hospital at Ipswich. He had been a member of the Keighley Corporation Fire Brigade, and his comrades and many representatives of other West Yorkshire brigades attended the funeral. The coffin, draped with the Union Jack, and surmounted with the helmet and appointments of the dead soldier, was borne on a motor fire engine at walking pace.
Post war
Harriet was Frederick’s next of kin and would have received his personal effects. She would also have been in receipt of his war medals which were the 1914 – 15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and these would have been sent to her in early 1921. She would also have received a memorial scroll and a bronze war memorial plaque inscribed with his name.
She received a payment of £59 9s 8d on 31st May 1919 and this included a war gratuity payment of £23 10s. She also received a one-off grant of £11 on 7th February 1919 prior to settlement of her war pension.
On 23rd June 1919, Harriet began receiving a dependant’s pension amounting to 43 shillings and four pence per week which might seem a very large amount, but she had to support herself and six dependant children until their 16th birthdays.
In the 1921 census Harriet was aged 46 and still living at 4, Brow Street along with Florrie aged 18 and a worsted drawer; Herbert aged 16 and a fitter’s apprentice at Prince Smith and Sons; Albert aged 14 and a worsted jobber for Charles Hanson and Son; Sarah aged 12 and a half time doffer at J. J. Craven & Co, worsted spinners at Dalton Mills. Isabella aged ten, Olive aged nine and Ivy aged seven, were still at school full time.
In the 1939 Register, Harriet was still at Brow Street and living there with Sarah, Olive and Ivy.
She died aged 79 in the last quarter of 1954, registered in the Worth Valley.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1881 England Census.
1891 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
1901 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1911 England Census.
Keighley’s Gallant Sons.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Utley Cemetery.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
1921 census.
1939 England and Wales Register.
Clapham Brothers – Graces Guide.
