This name is on the St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11
(Frederick WIlliam West)
(West, Frederick William)
Service no 12328
Rifleman, King's Royal Rifle Corps, 4th Battalion
Killed in action aged about 19 on 7 November 1918
Remembered at St. Rémy-Chaussée Communal Cemetery, Nord, France and at St Mark's Church, London SE11
British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1920
On 12 February 1915, Frederick William West, then 15 and working as a butcher's assistant, signed up for the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Like many excited young lads at the time, he couldn't wait to get to the Front. He probably feared missing out on the adventure. However, his appearance - 5 feet 1¾ inches and weighing barely 8½ stone, fresh complected, with brown eyes and brown hair and his attitude to discipline - probably told against him. He was found out and discharged at Sheerness, and handed his discharge papers (Army Form B.268). The reason is stated clearly: "having made a mis-statement as to age" on enlistment.
The date of discharge is not clear from the papers. However, it seems that Frederick rejoined the regiment when he was old enough. He was disciplined once before and several times after he rejoined:
12 October 1915
Absent when on active service...[illegible], for which the punishment was 7 days' CB (confined to barracks).
West was discharged some time after this entry.
Some time later [date illegible]
Absent from parade, for which he was deprived of pay.
21 January 1917
At Halfway Camp, he was found gambling in a barrack room for which he was deprived of 1 day's pay.
26 January 1917
At Halfway Camp, he broke out of camp whilst a defaulter and was absent from 1.30pm parade. for which the punishment was loss of 2 days' pay and 7 days' CC.
On 6 December 1917 West left the UK for Salonika, Greece arriving on 20 December. The following year, on 25 June 1918 he embarked at Altea, arriving at Taranto in southern Italy, a staging post on the route to and from Salonika, 2 days later. The files are opaque on West's movements after this. West died in France a mere 4 days before the Armistice.
His grieving family received his effects: 2 photos and 2 letters.
Information from the 1911 census
The West family lived in 5 rooms at 11 Aulton Place, Kennington. Walter West, 42, was a wire worker (working in telegraphy for the GPO - General Post Office); he was born in Walworth. Sophie West, 40, was born in Kennington. They had 11 children, 8 of whom survived:
Walter West, 20, a perambulator fitter, born in Wandsworth
Albert West, 18, porter, born in Wandsworth
Lucy West, 14, a general servant, born in Kennington
Frederick West, 12, born in Kennington
Lilian West, 9, born in Kennington
Florrie West, 7, born in Kennington
George West, 7, born in Kennington
Violet West, 2, born in Kennington
On the night of the census there were 5 visitors.