Frederick William Saddington (1899 - 1918)

This is one of the posts that I have been holding back until I had more information. It relates to the life and family of Frederick William Saddington, whose Death Penny I purchased on Ebay back in February.

Frederick William Saddington was born Frederick William Pearson Saddington on 23 November 1899 at Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire. He was the illegitimate son of Frances Emily Saddington, a clothing machinist, also of Burton Latimer.

Frederick and his mother appeared on the 1901 census in the household of his grandmother, Frances, and her second husband, Arthur Henry Pearson,

RG13/1446, Folio 39, Page 3
Registration District - Kettering, Sub District - Kettering, Enumeration District - 3
Schedule No. 14 - Kettering Road, Burton Latimer, Northants (living in 4 rooms)

Arthur H Pearson Head M 34 Baker Worker Northampton Irthlingborough
Frances do Wife M 38 Clothing machinist do do Tilbrooke [should be Bedfordshire]
Walter H do Son S 4 - - do Burton Latimer
Emily F Saddington Daur S 18 Clothing machinist do do do
Alfred A do Son S 16 Heel Builder (Boot) do do do
Frederick W P do Son S 1 - - do do

In the June quarter of 1902, Frances Emily (or Emily Frances) married either Walter James Freestone or Harry Stephen Hedges (Volume 3b, Page 368). As yet it is unknown whether her son, Frederick, went to live with her and her new husband, or whether he remained with his grandmother.

Frederick's life then becomes a blank sheet until his death on 28 September 1918. We know from "Soldiers Died In The Great War" that he enlisted in Northampton, although he was living in Burton Latimer. We know also that initially he was Private 25573 of the East Kent Regiment. We know that he was transferred to the 20th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own, otherwise known as the Middlesex Regiment, where his Army number changed to G/62045.

Frederick was killed in action on Saturday 28 September 1918, aged 18 years. This was the first day of the Battle of Flanders, a successful Anglo-Belgian attack along a 23 mile front from Dixmude to Ploegsteert under the command of King Albert of the Belgians. On this first day, the Allies captured part of Houthulst Forest and over 4000 German prisoners.

Frederick is buried in Grave J.15, Plot XIII of Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3, 4 kilometres south west of Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders, Belgium. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Plots XIII to XVI were created after the Armistice on 11 November 1918 by concentrating burials from isolated graves and smaller cemeteries. This means that Frederick was probably buried somewhere behind the lines after he fell, and then reinterred where he now rests after the end of the War.

Despite knowing relatively little about Frederick himself, I know more about his family. His mother was baptised Emily Frances Saddington on 7 January 1883 in the Parish Church at Burton Latimer. Her parents were Allen Dickins and Frances Saddington, and her father's occupation was "Laborer". Her brother, Alfred Allen, was baptised on 4 January 1885, also at Burton Latimer.

Emily's parents, Allen Dickins Saddington and Frances Johnson, were married in the Parish Church at Burton Latimer on 26 June 1882, after banns. Allen Dickins came from Cranford St John, Northamptonshire, and was a labourer. His father, Joseph Saddington, was also a labourer. Frances Johnson was the daughter of John Johnson, also a labourer. Neither the bride nor the groom could sign their names. The witnesses were William Wilford and Eleanor Saddington, who was a sister of the groom.

However, the marriage did not last long. The Burial Register for Burton Latimer shows Dicken Allen Saddington being buried on 13 November 1886, leaving Frances, his wife, with two children under 5 years old to bring up.

Frances Saddington went home to Mum and Dad. The 1891 census shows the young widow and her children living with her parents.

RG12/1215, Folio 20, Page 5
Registration District - Kettering, Sub District - Kettering, Enumeration District - 2
Schedule No. 35 - Osbourne's Row, Burton Latimer, Northants

John Johnson Head M 58 Farm Labourer Empd Tilbrook, Norths
Sarah do Wife M 54 - - Catworth do
Charles do Son S 19 Farm Labourer Empd Tilbrook do
Arthur do Son S 16 do do do Denford do
Frances Saddington Daur Wid 25 Machinist do Tilbrook do
Arthur do Grandson - 9 Scholar - Norths Burton Latimer
Fanny do Granddaur - 5 do - do do

[There are a number of inaccuracies in this census return. Tilbrook was in Bedfordshire at the time, and Catworth was in Huntingdonshire. Arthur Saddington should be Alfred Saddington, and he and his sister have had their ages swapped round.]

In the September quarter of 1896, Frances Saddington (nee Johnson) remarried to Arthur Henry Pearson (Volume 3b, Page 418). Their son, Walter Henry Pearson, was born on 28 February 1897 at Burton Latimer and was baptised in the Parish Church there on 18 April 1897. The family was then living on Meeting Lane, Burton Latimer.

In the March quarter of 1905, Frederick's uncle, Alfred Allen, married Emily Whiting (Volume 3b, Page 256). Their first child, also Alfred Allen, was born on 6 June 1906 and was baptised on 5 August 1906 at Burton Latimer. Their second child, and first daughter, Rose Lily, was born on 13 July 1908 and was baptised on 4 October 1909. Their third child, Daisy Violet, was baptised on 5 March 1911, but died not long afterwards. Their fourth child was also named Daisy Violet, and was baptised on 1 September 1912.

Frances Pearson (formerly Saddington) (nee Johnson) died on 14 December 1943, and is buried in the Public Cemetery at Burton Latimer. Her headstone reads as follows:

In loving memory of my dear mother Frances Pearson who passed away Dec 14th 1943 aged 82 years. 'Peacefully sleeping.' Also Pte. F.W. Saddington G/62045 20 Bn. Middlesex Reg. killed in action 28th Sept 1918 aged 18 years. Buried Voormezelle Enclosure Belgium.

Frederick is also remembered on the Burton Latimer War Memorial. However, he is not listed on the Roll of Honour, but this is accepted as being incomplete.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."
Laurence Binyon - "For the Fallen"

Sources for this post include: Burton Latimer: A Sense of Place; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; First World War.com ; "Soldiers Died In The Great War"