A Pre War Territorial who enlisted in May 1908

 Did not serve overseas

Fred Montgomery was born in Clay Cross in 1891 and was a Machinist by trade in the  employment of The Clay Cross Company.

Fred enlisted into the 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on the 19th May 1908 having not previously served in the Volunteers. Fred’s Attestation was witnessed by Captain Robert Stuart Hilton, who at that time was Officer Commanding G (Clay Cross) Company. At his time of enlistment Fred was 18 years old and 5′ 10″ with good physical development.

Fred attended all the Annual Camps between Scarborough in 1908 and Hunmanby in 1914.

In 1908 at the Annual Camp in Scarborough he received a post card from Lizzie (possible his full-sister Mary-Elizabeth b. 1884) informing him that ‘Annie’ had gone to Bradford for a week.

In the 1911 Census Fred is recorded as living with his mother Charlotte Stallmann (nee Montgomery) and step-father George at Stollard Street in Clay Cross. he had two younger step-sisters; Minnie (b. 1894) and Ethel (b. 1895).

Fred received the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in 1909 and was promoted to Corporal in July 1912. In 1913, whilst at the Annual Camp at Cumber Park, Fred wrote to his sweetheart “Annie”.

Following the outbreak of the War, Fred was was transferred to the 9th Provisional Battalion in June 1915 and finally discharged from the 29th Provisional Battalion on the 23rd March 1916 having served 7 years and 307 days with the Colours.

Fred died in December 1954, but there is no record of him marrying Annie and any additional information would be very welcome.